Hop Flavour Profiles

One of the questions we get asked most here at the Epicurean is what certain hops taste like.  It can be quite daunting when looking at beers, especially pales and IPAs, with sometimes up to 5 different hop varieties named on the can!

Here we will list some common hop varieties, where they are from, what they are used for, and their flavour profiles. 

It should be noted that this is in no way an exhaustive list, as not only are new hop varieties being developed every year, each year’s crops will vary slightly year to year.  Also, there are most probably already too many hop varieties to list already!

Citra

Country Of Origin: USA

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs

Flavour Profile: Grapefruit, Lime, Tropical Fruit

Amarillo

Country Of Origin: USA

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs, Porters

Flavour Profile: Orange Peel

Mosaic

Country Of Origin: USA

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs

Flavour Profile: Mango, Papaya, Pine

Cascade

Country Of Origin: USA

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs

Flavour Profile: Spicy, Grapefruit, Floral, Citrus

Centennial

Country Of Origin: USA

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs, Wheat Beers

Flavour Profile: Earthy, Floral, Citrus, Grapefruit

Chinook

Country Of Origin: USA

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs, Porters, American Barley Wine

Flavour Profile: Spicy, Pine, Citrus

El Dorado

Country Of Origin: USA

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs

Flavour Profile: Pineapple, Mango, Pear, Watermelon

Idaho 7

Country Of Origin: USA

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs, Wheat Beers

Flavour Profile: Mango, Peach, Pine, Tea

Azacca

Country Of Origin: USA

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs, Saison

Flavour Profile: Mango, Orange, Pine, Spicy

Eclipse

Country Of Origin: Australia

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs, Lagers, Wheat Beers

Flavour Profile: Mandarin, Pine, Orange Peel

Vic Secret

Country Of Origin: Australia

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs

Flavour Profile: Pineapple, Passionfruit, Pine

Belma

Country Of Origin: USA

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs

Flavour Profile: Citrus, Strawberry, Pineapple, Melon

Sabro

Country Of Origin: USA

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs, Stouts

Flavour Profile: Coconut, Pineapple, Mint

Strata

Country Of Origin: USA

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs

Flavour Profile: Passionfruit, Strawberry, Citrus

Galaxy

Country Of Origin: Australia

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs

Flavour Profile: Passionfruit, Peach, Citrus

Hallertau Mittelfrüh

Country Of Origin: Germany

Used In: Lagers, Wheat Beers

Flavour Profile: Floral, Spicy

Perle

Country Of Origin: Germany

Used In: Lagers, Wheat Beers, Kölsch

Flavour Profile: Fruity, Floral, Spicy, Mint

Northern Brewer

Country Of Origin: Germany/UK

Used In: Bitters, Stouts, Porters, Kölsch, Lagers, Wheat Beers, Munich Helles

Flavour Profile: Woody, Mint, Pine

Lublin

Country Of Origin: Poland

Used In: Lagers

Flavour Profile: Spicy, Floral

Styrian Golding

Country Of Origin: Slovenia

Used In: Bitters, Vienna Lagers, Pilsners, Belgian Lagers, Märzen

Flavour Profile: Earthy, Sweet, Spicy

Styrian Wolf

Country Of Origin: Slovenia

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs, Saison

Flavour Profile: Mango, Elderflower, Violet

Saaz

Country Of Origin: Czechia

Used In: Lagers

Flavour Profile: Earthy, Herbal, Floral

Tettnang

Country Of Origin: Germany

Used In: Lagers, Wheat Beers

Flavour Profile: Floral, Herby

Nelson Sauvin

Country Of Origin: New Zealand

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs

Flavour Profile: White Wine, Grape, Gooseberry

Motueka

Country Of Origin: New Zealand

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs, Lagers

Flavour Profile: Lemon, Lime, Tropical Fruit

Riwaka

Country Of Origin: New Zealand

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs

Flavour Profile: Passionfruit, Citrus

Ella

Country Of Origin: Australia

Used In: Lagers, Pale Ales, IPAs

Flavour Profile: Floral, Spicy, Tropical Fruit

Goldings

Country Of Origin: UK

Used In: Bitters, Porters, Stout, English-style Pale Ale

Flavour Profile: Earthy, Floral, Honey

Bramling Cross

Country Of Origin: UK

Used In: Bitters, Fruit Beers, Pale Ales

Flavour Profile: Blackcurrant, Lemon, Pear

Olicana

Country Of Origin: UK

Used In: Pale Ales, IPAs

Flavour Profile: Mango, Passionfruit, Grapefruit

Sorachi Ace

Country Of Origin: Japan

Used In: Pale Ales, Saisons, Lagers

Flavour Profile: Lemon, Orange, Dill, Coriander, Oak