Lager Hops in an Ale

[tjones_jr]

I picked up some random hops the other day for a pale ale style I want to brew to convert some friends...

when i got home I read up on the style hops I purchased and found that they are all better suited for lagers than ales.

1) what makes them better for lagers?

2) do I need to get more hops, or should the beer still come out tasting fine with the lager hops

[Tweek]

Some hops were traditionally used in certain types of beer primarily due to the growing region and the popular style brewed there. That being said I think you can put whatever hops you want in whatever type of beer you want, unless you are going to compete in a specific style you would need to brew within guidlines.

[S.F.B.]

IMO, the hops you like and choose to use in your brew is what makes them better suited.

You will be fine with the ones you chose.

[brewmonkey]

You can use any hop in any beer that you wish. The reasons you find some are used in Lagers vs. Ale's are the region in which they were grown in. Hallertauer mittlefruh for example is something you generally would not find in an ale, but then again the region (Hallertauer) it is grown in is not known for it's production of ales. Where in England you will not find a bunch of the brewers using Goldings to make lagers. So I don't think of it so much as the hops were designed for the beer but rather what was available for the local brewers.

Pick your hops for the value they will add to your beer rather then what a style might say, unless you are trying to brew to a style.

[mortong]

A good example is Saaz - mostly used for lagers, but Alaskan Amber uses it. It's now one of my favorite for ales.

Have fun with it.