New Zealand Hop Strains

Notes on New Zealand hop strains and New Zealand-made beer representing each.

Nelson Sauvin12-13% AA, 6-8% beta

High acid strain. The big one you’re heard of. Volatile thiol compounds are thought to be responsible for the distinct grape / gooseberry note. Described as similar in character to Sauvignon Blanc wine. Juicy and oily in the mouth when used late in the boil. Can be garlic-y and pungent if old. Restrained use as bittering and more often as late addition / flameout and the experience is “juicier”.

#nelson-sauvin tagged beers on Ratebeer

Moa Pale Ale (5%)

Liberty Halo Pilsner (5.4%)

Liberty Sauvignon Bomb (7%)

Garage Project Hops on Pointe (6.7%)

The Twisted Hop Sauvin Pilsner (5%)

Moa Original (5%)

Tuatara Bohemian Pilsner (5%)

Motueka6-8% AA, 5-6% beta

Medium acid strain derived from Saaz and shows similar lemon character, but more “tropical”. Formerly called Belgian Saaz. Shows a foul diesel fume and onion / garlic odor at times, but can also be cleaner, brighter, fruitier, depending on freshness and preservation.

#motueka tagged beers on Ratebeer

Yeastie Boys Digital IPA (7%)

Schipper’s Scallywag (5.5%)

Hop Federation Golden Ale (4.5%)

Garage Project Trip Hop (5.6%)

Croucher New Zealand Pilsner (5%)

Dale’s Belgian Pale Ale (5.4%)

Riwaka4-7% AA, 4-5% beta

Another Saaz-derived strain. Lemon-herb-pepper impression. Relatively low acid. Formerly called by the un-sexy, un-Aotearoa name D Saaz.

#riwaka tagged beers on Ratebeer

Emerson’s Pilsner (4.9%)

Bach Brewing Hopsmacker Pale Ale (5.8%)

Renaissance Paradox Pilsner (4%)

Pacifica aka. Pacific Hallertau 5-6% AA, 5-6% beta

Medium acid strain derived from German Hallertauer Mittlefrüh and shows the lemon and peppery and “cheese rind” quality that you find in German noble hops like Hallertau and Tettnanger. For me it lacks the apricot fruitiness of German Hallertau and seems more lemon-y like German Spalter.

#pacfica tagged beers on Ratebeer

Schipper’s Mistress Pilsner (5%)

Valkyrie Brynhild Golden Ale (5%)

Boundary Road Bouncing Czech (5.2%)

Pacific Gem13-16% AA, 7-9% beta

High acid strain derived from Fuggles, showing woody-nutty-oily-berry character. Best when used judiciously, and not overused, as a bittering hop.

#pacific-gem tagged beers on Ratebeer

Invercargill Sa!son (6%)

8 Wired HopWired IPA (7.3%)

Pacific Jade12-14% AA, 7-8% beta

High acid strain derived from Saaz – citric, “spicy”, herbal, a little goes a long way for bitterness.

#pacific-jade tagged beers on Ratebeer

Tuatara APA (Aotearoa Pale Ale) (5.8%)

8 Wired Mighty Imperial Ale (11%)

Tuatara Bohemian Pilsner (5%)

Schipper’s Scallywag (5.5%)

ParrotDog FlaxenFeather (4.7%)

8 Wired Red Dwarf (5.5%)

Boundary Road Flying Fortress (4.6%)

NZ Cascade6-8% AA, 5-6% beta

An aromatic medium acid NZ derivative of Cascade. Lineage goes back to English Fuggles. Intoxicating floral orange marmalade and rich apricot aroma, juicy and oily with measured acidity. Mouth-watering when done right.

#nz-cascade tagged beers on Ratebeer

ParrotDog DeadCanary (5.3%)

Emerson’s Bird Dog IPA (6.5%)

Moa 99 Not Out SKW Pale Ale (5%)

Renaissance Discovery American Pale Ale (4.5%)

Macs Hop Rocker Pils (5%)

Southern Cross11-14% AA, 5-6% beta

Another high acid English Fuggle derivative. For me the impression is floral / lavender, peppercorn, wood, mint, etc. One of the more “English Noble” in character of all the NZ hops.

#southern-cross tagged beers on Ratebeer

8 Wired CrossWired (5.5%)

Galbraith NZ Pale Ale (5%)

Golden Eagle Solo Lupulus NZIPA (7.3%)

Yeastie Boys Screwtop (6.5%)

Adnams / Yeastie Boys Gunnamatta (6.5%)

Galbraith Antipodean (5%)

Wakatu (formerly Hallertau Aroma)6-9% AA, 8-9% beta

Medium acid 2/3 Hallertau Miitlefrüh strain. Lemon-line-floral-spicy-herbal impression.

#wakatu tagged beers on Ratebeer

Moa Five Hop (6.2%)

Schipper’s Mistress Pilsner (5%)

Renaissance Enlightenment Series Fresh Hop Benelux Ale (7%)

Rakau10-11% AA, 4-5% beta

Medium-high acid fruity-tropical strain similar in aroma to Nelson Sauvin.

#rakau tagged beers on Ratebeer

Garage Project Pernicious Weed (8%)

Renaissance Marlborough Pale Ale (MPA) (2013 onward) (8.5%)

Hop Federation Rakau IPA (5.7%)

Green Bullet11-14% AA, 6-7% beta

High acid open pollinated New Zealand “Smoothecone” strain. Oily, juicy, floral, fruity, wine-like.

#green-bullet tagged beers on Ratebeer

BrewDog Hardcore NZ (9.2%)

Wai-iti 3-4% AA, 5% beta

A unique low acid orange-citrus-fruity strain, similar in character to Riwaka and shares large percentages of oils with Saaz.

#wai-iti tagged beers on Ratebeer

Tuatara APA (Aotearoa Pale Ale) (5.8%)

Renaissance Grandmaster Fresh Hop MPA (8.5%)

Aotearoa Mata Wai-Iti Waka NZ Pale Ale (5.5%)

Kohatu6-7% AA, 5-6% beta

Medium acid strain bred from aroma Hallertauer Mittelfrüeh. Spice-pine-tropical.

#kohatu tagged beers on Ratebeer

Moa 99 Not Out SKW Pale Ale (5%)

Panhead The Vandal NZ IPA (8%)

Croucher ANZUS IPA (7%)

Dr Rudi / Super Alpha 10-12% AA, 7-9% beta

Another high acid open pollinated cross variety “Smoothcone” strain. Grass, pine, citrus.

#dr-rudi tagged beers on Ratebeer

Garage Project Webstock API (6.3%)

Waimea 16-19% AA, 7-9% beta

Super alpha acid strain that is described as less bitter than it expected, with an aroma of tangelo and pine needle. Derived from Pacific Jade (which is derived from Saaz).

#waimea tagged beers on Ratebeer

Tuatara/Beer Here Waimea Hopcat (4.7%)

Michael James

BJCP-certified beer judge, photographer, and software developer from Boulder, Colorado. I use this site to chronicle my worldwide beer adventures shared through photography and stories, with a focus on traditional old world brewing practices.

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