Comparing Locally Grown Hops with Commercial Hops

Dr. Brett Taubman from Appalachian State University has organized a class project for his Brewing Science course at Appalachian State University in Boone this semester comparing hops grown in our region (including Cascade and Nugget from Blue Ridge Hops) with the same varieties grown commercially elsewhere (probably from the Pacific NW). The students will analyze the hops for alpha and beta acids prior to brewing. Then they will be assigned to groups and brew beers with the same malt bill, but each group will be assigned a different hop variety. One member of a group will use the locally grown example of the variety and the other will use the commercially available example. They will run the flavor and aroma profiles and IBU's on the finished products and will also have tasting panels for each group's beers to determine any differences perceived by the panels. Can't wait to see the results!