The next "it" hop?

Alaskan has a new single hop ale out with a dwarf variety called Azacca. Sounds intriguing.

 

New brewery in town opening up here did a collab with Alewerks - their hop contribution was Azacca. I'd never heard of it and they had to spell it for me. Was in a red rye ipa - I liked it. Was tough to get a feel for that particular strain from that beer though.

I've liked everything I've had that featured Citra - can't say I feel any hope strain is over or under utilized though. Maybe I'm not that picky or my palate isn't there.

 

See here

Favorite "IPA hop" poll

 

Founders makes an Azacca IPA, it's been on tap at the taproom a few times. It's excellent.

 

I think Ella (an off-shoot of Galaxy) is going to be the next big hop for IPAs looking for a bit more spiciness and depth in flavor. It has a crazy good Anise and floral flavor and aroma that works surprisingly well with some low-key citrus.

Ella is a bit more multi-dimensional that a Citra or a Mosaic, so it's not as commonly applied to the huge citrus bombs we're seeing now. However, I think it's going to start popping up a lot more frequently.

 

That sounds good.

 

For those with a more in-depth knowledge of the hop trade, what are the "danker" or more pungent varieties coming up? I'm a big fan of Columbus for the characteristics just mentioned and would love to find other hops to look out for.

 

I personally did not like the characteristics but Mandarina Bavaria and Huell (used together in the Otter Creek/Jack's Abby collaboration) could get alot of interest. The tangerine, berry and melon qualities certainly fit with IPA popularity.

 

I still can't get enough Mosaic. Citra and Galaxy are next in line, but nothing has ever compared to Mosaic for me.

 

The next 'new' hop that I will be homebrewing with soon is Equinox. I was a BIG fan of the Sierra Nevada Equinox IPA that was produced last year.

I am uncertain whether Equinox will be the next "it" hop for the wider beer drinking community.

Cheers!

P.S. A hop that I wish I could homebrew with is HBC-435 but I don't know if I will be able to buy it.

"The Hop Breeding Co. (HBC) is releasing a new variety hop currently known as HBC-435. With a history that goes back to the late 1990s, HBC-435 is affectionately known as “Ron Mexico” after a pair of homebrewers were gifted some a decade ago. The name pays homage to the hop plant’s background, which is half neomexicanus. The hop has distinct notes of tropical and stone fruits, creating a delicious hop aroma in this session IPA brewed by Vinnie Cilurzo, owner and brewmaster at Russian River."

 

Spruce Tips.

 

Stoneface makes a really nice dipa with mosaic and azzaca. Killing two trendy hops with one stone

 

Comet

 

Another Mosaic fan here. My next planned brew is a SMaSH with Mosaic.

 

This sounds like heaven!!! Do you know of any brews using it right now?

 

I know Terrapin was experimenting with it in a couple brews, although the names are escaping me. I believe the main one is their Hop Selection 2015. I also had an IPA and a pale ale from The Kernel that used it spectacularly.