HUMULUS LUPULUS
… and other bitter truths
Bild: BarthHaas
2021 hops delight with rich aromas
Let’s be honest: Here in Germany, we were anything but
pleased with last year’s summer. Too wet and, on the
whole, too cold. But the lousy weather we were complaining
about turned out to be ideal for the hops. Flavor expert
Dr. Elisabeth Wiesen of BarthHaas is delighted: “The
growing and harvesting conditions were optimal for German
hops. And this shows in the quality.” The alpha acid
content, she adds, is slightly above average and the hop
aroma is much more intense. The 2021 crop of the traditional
German varieties in particular is a real surprise,
with huge aromas.
The world-leading high alpha variety Herkules (2021: 1.6-
2.4 % total oil, 15.2-17.5 % alpha acid) for example: Its aromatic
talents are often overlooked because it is mainly
used for bittering. Typically, Herkules is characterized by
green-grassy, vegetal, spicy, and herbal notes. And in crop
year 2021 it was given a powerful boost in these aroma
categories. But that was not all. The big surprise came
particularly in the form of extra-fresh citrus notes, with
the delicious accompaniment of cream caramel and
woody aromas. All in all, in terms of aroma the 2021
Herkules is decidedly more assertive, with the added
extra of fresh, fruity, creamy, and earthy notes.
On the aroma rose chart for Hallertau Tradition (0.5-1.0
% total oil, 4.0-7.2 % alpha acid), the “sweet fruits,” “floral,”
“berry fruits,” “spicy,” “cream caramel,” and “green grassy”
categories have literally exploded. Although typically on
the citrusy-herbal side, this year’s crop also evokes soft
apricot and warming barrique and gingerbread notes – an
extremely exciting combination.
The aroma profile of Spalt Select (0.5-1.5 % total oil, 3.0-
6.5 % alpha acid) has burst into bloom. Well known for its
unusually light, fragrant chamomile-blossom note, with
woody-aromatic moments and a dash of lemon, this
year’s Spalt Select has been given a boost across the
entire fruit spectrum: Strong impressions of passion fruit,
lemon and cucumber are accompanied by herbal notes,
such as thyme and lovage.
Tettnang hops (0.5-0.9 % total oil, 2.5-5.5 % alpha acid)
also evoke more intense impressions of sweet fruits, red
berries and green fruits than usual –
against a background of herbal, spicy
and grassy notes that have also risen to
greater prominence.
2021 saw the premiere of Tango, a new
cultivar from the Hüll research center.
And it looks, or rather smells, pretty
good: A delicious fruity blend of lemon,
grapefruit, and passion fruit, with a touch
of green fruits, accompanied by pine-like
notes – against a background made up of the traditional
spectrum of green grassy, spicy, and herbal moments,
with a hint of menthol. Tango (2.4-4.0 % total
oil, 9.0-12 % alpha acid) is a variety that not only offers
outstanding brewing quality, climate tolerance, and
high resistance. In terms of aroma, it is also as versatile,
intense, and seductive as the dance of the same
name.
Conclusion: The 2021 crop of German hops – particularly
the traditional varieties – has a delightful range of
unusually rich and intense aroma profiles, making it
ideally suited for the current lager wave: Dry-hopped
bottom-fermented beers are on trend in the USA and
Europe. This shows tastes returning to the traditional
aroma spectrum of herbal, spicy, green-grassy, woody,
and menthol. As in “Italian Pilsener,” the current trend
beer in the USA: This beer style is delicately dry-hopped
using traditional European varieties.
Voilà! For all brewers and connoisseurs who like things
traditional and enjoy some extra fruit: The 2021 German
hops are ready and waiting.
For those who are interested, all the aroma profiles of
the new crop can be found in the comprehensive “Hop
Harvest Guide 2021,” the latest issue of the annual
guide published by international hop specialist Barth-
Haas. □
With the kind support of Barth-Haas Group
www.barthhaasgroup.com
Humulus Lupulus
BREWING AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY · 2/2022 15
/www.barthhaasgroup.com
