What do Mistral Hops Taste Like? SMaSH Beer Experiment

Adding to the growing list of SMASH beers; this week, we dive into Mistral Hops.
From Yakima Valley Hops, these hops are described to have sweet fruit, citrus and floral properties.
Mike found the flavor and aroma to be fruity with a touch of spiciness in the background. He best compared it to Mosaic hops with a blending of Noble hops in there like a Tettnang.
John's take was similar noting some berry like qualities and perhaps picked up a little more on the citrus descriptor.
This hop was pretty good as a stand alone hop in this experiment. We certainly wouldn't turn down a beer brewed with just this hop. However, blending this in with some other subtle hops would be great. Or using this to amplify the fruit quality of other hops you're using would probably be the best route with this hop.
CHEERS!
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[@leshoffman4959]

Thanks for the evaluation, and I have an APA with Yeaster Bunny Spro kveik I just tasted at bottling. Yep, nice citrus and an herbiness, maybe from the Spalt heritage it has. Fermenter to bottle in six days with 80 F fermentation. That kveik is incredibly clean and may be similar to the Oslo strain. Cheers!

[@MarkSangamon]

I'm loving the French and French grown hops. Just finished an Am. Blonde with French Triskel. Earthy, floral, with a bit of spice, nice.

[@BrewDudes]

Excellent - cheers! - John

[@SleightlyScott]

Love watching you guys! Always awesome and entertaining! Thank you both for your videos!

[@BrewDudes]

Thanks for the kind words! Cheers! -Mike

[@tylerb6081]

Thanks for the video! 'Mistral' is a big name in windsurfing. I'd love to see a video with Trident hops. Thanks.

[@BrewDudes]

We will add it to the list! Thanks for the Mistral info. Cheers! -Mike

[@MarsMountain]

I want to try Mistral now, thanks for the detailed (as always) review. Cheers!

[@BrewDudes]

Definitely give it a go. Great fruit forward blending hop. Cheers! -Mike

[@distlledbrewedreviewed]

Very interesting fellas, now I want to try these hops. Cheers!

[@BrewDudes]

Cheers! -Mike

[@JimmyJusa]

I bought some hops recently from hopsdirect that I haven't heard of before that all seem interesting for summer beers. Sonnet, tardif de Bourgogne, and Guttenberg hops. None are currently listed so they must have only had a small amount.

[@BrewDudes]

Those are certainly off my radar. I'll have to check with John maybe they are on his list. Cheers! -Mike

[@1985jamesward]

Your review made me jump straight to Belgian pale or saison. Appropriate? They are my go to beer styles but I always end up with a citrus clash if I go too new world or too dull if it’s old world.

[@BrewDudes]

This has a strong possibility to work in those styles. I think you should give one a go and report back! Cheers! -Mike

[@pettermandt9200]

«I want a Mistral in front of the people. I want a Mistral to clear my name».
Yeah, whem I was a kid I never understood why Lou Reed wanted a painting. In front of the people. As a teenager it finally dawned on me ....

[@BrewDudes]

I guess we all just need a strong, cold northwesterly wind from time to time. - John

[@Styv93]

Great video as always! What yeast did you use?

[@BrewDudes]

We use US05 on almost all the SMaSH beers. Cheers! -Mike

[@Styv93]

@@BrewDudes Thanks Mike

[@neostroll9992]

How do you get a SMaSH beer to look hazy like a NEIPA ? If I remember from your other videos you use US05 yeast and obviously no adjuncts so should be clear as a bell..........

[@BrewDudes]

This has been an off camera question I have for John quite a bit. In part, this is because the beers are brewed and pretty much packages as soon as possible so we can keep the SMaSH content coming. US05 isn't the most aggressive flocculator to begin with so that plays into it some. I've never had an APA with US05 drop completely brilliant. When these beers hang around a little longer in John's fridge they tend to clear up. We just get to them too fast for that to happen. Also he puts these into some short 2 gallon cornies. They get jostled on the ride over I am sure too. All that said, I have a theory about all these new world varieties seem to just lend themselves towards being hazy. I haven't figured out a great way to test that yet on the home brew scale. Perhaps doing like a Mistral and Cascade SMaSH side by side on the same timeline and on the same package treatment would shed some light on the hazy. great question. Cheers! -Mike

[@neostroll9992]

@@BrewDudes Thanks for the detailed reply Mike, personally I strive to make my beers hazy and feel disappointed if they clear eventually in the bottle. Love your videos, keep up the great content. Best wishes from SW England :)