Azacca Hops and Best Beer Styles: Hop-timizing Your Brew-tiful Creations

Reading Time: around 11 min

Azacca hops are the life of the beer party! These zesty little cones bring a tropical fruit fiesta to your brew, making your taste buds do the cha-cha. Named after the Haitian god of agriculture, Azacca hops pack a punch with their citrusy, mango-like flavors.

Azacca hops shine brightest in American pale ales and IPAs.

Where their fruity aromas can really strut their stuff.

You’ll find these hops dancing in late additions and dry-hopping, showing off their best moves. With alpha acids between 14-16%, they’re not just pretty faces – they can bitter your brew too.

Want to make your beer pop? Throw some Azacca in the mix. But remember, too much of a good thing can turn your beer into a fruit salad. Use them wisely, and you’ll have a crowd-pleaser that’ll have your friends begging for more.

Key Takeaways

Azacca hops bring tropical fruit and citrus flavors to your beer
They work best in American pale ales and IPAs, especially for aroma
Use Azacca for late additions and dry-hopping to maximize their fruity punch

Meet the Mighty Azacca

Azacca hops pack a punch of tropical fruity goodness in your beer. This hop variety is named after a god and bred by dwarves (sort of). Let’s dig into the juicy details. And I mean it.

A Hop of the Gods and the Story Behind

Ever wondered what Haitian deities and beer have in common? Meet Azacca, the hop named after the Haitian god of agriculture. Talk about divine inspiration. This hop variety brings heavenly tropical flavors to your brews.

The mother is Toyomidori, the mother’s grandmother is Northern Brewer, and from the side of the father a grandmother is Summit. So as you can see, truly some legendary heritage..

Azacca hops burst onto the scene with aromas of mango, papaya, and citrus.

It’s like a fruit salad in your glass. Just so much better cause it’s beer! But don’t be fooled by its fruity nature – this hop means business with high alpha acids for bittering too.

When you use Azacca in your homebrew, you’re tapping into divine agricultural wisdom.

Who knew the Haitian gods were such beer enthusiasts?

The Rise of the Runt: American Dwarf Hop Association

The American Dwarf Hop Association (ADHA) are the masterminds behind Azacca. These hop wizards created a compact powerhouse that packs a flavor punch.

ADHA developed Azacca to be disease-resistant and high-yielding. It’s the little hop that could. Released in 2014, it quickly became a brewer’s favorite.

You’ll find Azacca shining in IPAs, pale ales, and fruity beers.

It’s versatile enough for bittering…

…but really struts its stuff in late additions and dry-hopping.

Want to make your beer pop? Try a single-hop Azacca brew. You’ll taste why this mighty dwarf hop has taken the beer world by storm. And seriously, you can thank me later.

Main Characteristics

Purpose: Dual / Universal
Aromas: Mango, Papaya, Pineapple, Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon
Notes: Pine, Grassy, Spicy, Citrus, Tropical Fruit
Alpha-acids: 14.0% – 16.0% [bitterness added through boiling]
Beta-acids: 4.0% – 5.5% [bitterness added through maturation]
Cohumulone: 38% – 45% of alpha-acids [bitterness profile: low = smooth, high = sharp]
Hops oil breakdown: 1.6 – 2.5 mL / 100g [responsible for flavors and aromas]
- Myrcene: 46% – 55% [resinous, citrus, fruity]
- Humulene: 14% – 18% [noble, woody, spicy]
- Caryophyllene: 8% – 12% [spicy, piney, herbal]
- Farnesene: 0% – 1% [fresh, green, floral]

The Sensory Carnival of Azacca

Alright, let’s get ready for a wild ride through the flavor funhouse of Azacca hops. Your taste buds are about to take a tropical vacation with a piney twist. Divine, that’s what it is.

Tropical Fruit Bonanza

Imagine biting into the juiciest mango you’ve ever tasted. Now add a splash of pineapple and a hint of papaya. That’s Azacca in a nutshell. These hops bring a fruity explosion to your beer.

You’ll feel like you’re sipping a cocktail on a white sandy beach.

But wait, there’s more! Azacca doesn’t stop at just tropical fruits. It throws in some zesty citrus notes too. Think grapefruit, orange, and lemon all mixed up in a tangy dance party.

From Piney Peaks to Citrusy Shores

So just when you think you’ve got Azacca figured out, it surprises you with a pine-scented twist. It’s like taking a hike through a forest after your beach vacation. The piney notes add depth and balance to the fruit fiesta.

But Azacca isn’t done yet. Ah, most definitely not.

It sprinkles in some spicy hints for good measure. It’s like your beer decided to wear a fancy cologne. Fancy, but not too fancy – this is still a fun-loving hop after all.

Your nose will thank you for the aromatic adventure. From tropical fruits to pine forests, Azacca takes you on a sensory world tour without leaving your barstool.

The Chemistry of Charisma

Azacca hops are like the life of the party in your beer. They bring a tropical punch that’ll make your taste buds dance. Let’s break down the science behind their star power.

Alpha and Beta Acid Acrobatics

Azacca’s got some serious alpha acid game, clocking in at 14-16%. That’s your ticket to bitter bliss. But the goodies don’t stop there. Beta acids hang out at 4-5.5%, adding depth to the flavor show. Co-humulone makes up 38-45% of those alphas.

And that’s why you need to be careful, the bitterness is rather sharp one.

Want to make your IPA pop? Toss these bad boys in late.

They’ll work their magic without turning your beer into a bitter bomb.

Oil Content: The Secret Sauce

Here’s where Azacca really struts its stuff. Total oil content? A juicy 1.6-2.5 mL/100g. Myrcene leads the pack at 46-55%, bringing those tropical vibes. Humulene and caryophyllene join the party too, adding spicy and woody notes.

When you dry hop with Azacca, you’re unleashing a fruity fireworks display. Think mangoes, papayas, and pineapples having a beach bash in your glass. It’s like you went for exotic trip and didn’t have to leave your couch.

It’s perfect for making your pale ales and IPAs sing with flavor.

Azacca’s Brew Crew

Azacca hops are like the life of the party in your brew kettle. They bring tropical vibes and fruity fun to a range of beer styles. Let’s dive into which brews Azacca likes to hang out with most.

Pairing Pals: IPA and APA

IPAs and APAs are Azacca’s BFFs. These hop-forward styles let Azacca’s fruity personality shine bright. In an IPA, Azacca’s high alpha acid content (14-16%) adds a punch of bitterness and loads of flavor.

Think mango, pineapple, and citrus exploding in your glass.

For American Pale Ales, Azacca brings a lighter touch.

It’s perfect for dry-hopping, giving your APA a tropical aroma that’ll make you feel like you’re sipping on a beach. Want to go big? Try Azacca in a Double IPA. Its bold flavors can stand up to the intense maltiness.

Pro tip: Use Azacca for late additions or dry-hopping to max out those juicy aromas.

Unexpected Guest Styles

Azacca isn’t just an IPA groupie. This versatile hop loves to crash other beer style parties too. In a Saison, Azacca adds a fruity twist to the spicy yeast character. It’s like pineapple meets pepper – a bit weird but awesome.

Feeling funky? Azacca plays well with American Wild Ales and Sours.

Its tropical notes complement tart flavors, creating a taste explosion.

Even lagers can benefit from a touch of Azacca. A small late addition can give your crisp brew a subtle fruity kick. Like “whoa, what was that?”. Lastly, don’t forget Fruit Beers. Azacca’s natural fruitiness boosts real fruit flavors.

Mango IPA, anyone?

Magic Tricks of Azacca

Azacca hops are like the magicians of the brewing world. They’ve got some nifty tricks up their sleeves that’ll make your taste buds do a double-take. Let’s peek behind the curtain and see how these hop wizards work their magic.

The Late Addition Phenomenon

Want to add a burst of tropical goodness to your brew? Azacca’s got you covered. Toss these bad boys in during the last 15 minutes of the boil or at flameout. You’ll unleash a flavor explosion that’ll make your beer sing.

For a juicy IPA, try this:

0.5 oz at 15 minutes
1 oz at flameout
1 oz whirlpool

The later you add Azacca, the more fruity punch you’ll get. It’s like a flavor time machine, sending your beer straight to a tropical paradise.

Dry-Hopping: The Flavor Finale

Ready for the grand finale? Enter dry-hopping with Azacca. This is where the real magic happens. Add these hops after fermentation and watch your beer transform.

For a killer American Pale Ale:

2 oz dry hop for 3-5 days

Boom! You’ve just unlocked Azacca’s secret stash of mango, papaya, and pineapple aromas. It’s like your beer just took a vacation to a fruit market. Your nose will thank you, and your taste buds will throw a party.

Below you can find some other ideas how to use this beauty.

Style Name	Brewing Stage	Min of Oz per gallon	Max of Oz per gallon	Min of Oz per batch [5gal]	Max of Oz per batch [5gal]	Average of Oz per gallon
American IPA	Aroma	0.01	1.6	0.07	8	0.18
	Bittering	0.01	0.57	0.07	2.84	0.13
	Dry Hop	0.03	1.6	0.13	8	0.27
	First Wort	0.01	0.2	0.06	1	0.08
	Flavor	0.01	0.5	0.07	2.5	0.12
	Hop Stand	0.05	0.61	0.23	3.03	0.27
	Hopback	0.09	0.42	0.45	2.08	0.25
	Mash	0.16	0.31	0.8	1.55	0.24
	Whirlpool	0.01	1.67	0.06	8.35	0.22
American IPA Total		0.01	1.67	0.06	8.35	0.21
New England IPA	Aroma	0.02	0.83	0.08	4.17	0.18
	Bittering	0.01	0.27	0.03	1.36	0.1
	Dry Hop	0.05	1.78	0.23	8.89	0.28
	First Wort	0.01	0.18	0.07	0.91	0.07
	Flavor	0.02	0.4	0.1	2	0.14
	Hop Stand	0.04	0.55	0.21	2.73	0.19
	Hopback	0.04	0.67	0.21	3.34	0.22
	Whirlpool	0.03	1.09	0.14	5.45	0.24
New England IPA Total		0.01	1.78	0.03	8.89	0.24
American Pale Ale	Aroma	0.03	0.73	0.13	3.64	0.15
	Bittering	0.02	0.32	0.08	1.59	0.1
	Dry Hop	0.01	1.09	0.06	5.45	0.27
	First Wort	0.02	0.2	0.11	1	0.07
	Flavor	0.02	0.36	0.11	1.82	0.11
	Hop Stand	0.11	0.27	0.53	1.34	0.19
	Hopback	0.06	0.4	0.31	2	0.2
	Whirlpool	–	0.9	0.01	4.49	0.21
American Pale Ale Total		–	1.09	0.01	5.45	0.18
Double IPA	Aroma	0.04	0.73	0.21	3.64	0.22
	Bittering	0.04	0.4	0.21	2	0.19
	Dry Hop	0.05	0.92	0.25	4.6	0.31
	Flavor	0.06	0.4	0.32	2	0.2
	Whirlpool	0.05	0.59	0.25	2.97	0.28
Double IPA Total		0.04	0.92	0.21	4.6	0.26
Blonde Ale	Aroma	0.03	0.4	0.17	2	0.13
	Bittering	0.02	0.4	0.08	2	0.09
	Dry Hop	0.08	0.8	0.4	4	0.23
	First Wort	0.02	0.1	0.11	0.5	0.06
	Flavor	0.03	0.2	0.15	1	0.11
	Whirlpool	0.03	0.55	0.17	2.73	0.18
Blonde Ale Total		0.02	0.8	0.08	4	0.16

Style Name	Brewing Stage	Min of Grams per liter	Max of Grams per liter	Min of Grams per batch [20ltr]	Max of Grams per batch [20ltr]	Average of Grams per liter
American IPA	Aroma	0.11	11.98	2.22	239.65	1.34
	Bittering	0.1	4.25	2	85.05	0.96
	Dry Hop	0.2	11.98	4	239.65	2.06
	First Wort	0.09	1.5	1.77	29.96	0.63
	Flavor	0.1	3.74	1.95	74.89	0.93
	Hop Stand	0.34	4.55	6.81	90.91	2.02
	Hopback	0.68	3.12	13.62	62.41	1.83
	Mash	1.2	2.33	24	46.51	1.77
	Whirlpool	0.1	12.5	1.92	250	1.68
American IPA Total		0.09	12.5	1.77	250	1.56
New England IPA	Aroma	0.13	6.24	2.5	124.82	1.35
	Bittering	0.05	2.04	1	40.85	0.74
	Dry Hop	0.35	13.31	6.91	266.28	2.13
	First Wort	0.1	1.36	2	27.23	0.52
	Flavor	0.16	3	3.12	59.91	1.09
	Hop Stand	0.31	4.08	6.24	81.7	1.43
	Hopback	0.31	5	6.24	100	1.64
	Whirlpool	0.22	8.17	4.31	163.4	1.8
New England IPA Total		0.05	13.31	1	266.28	1.81
American Pale Ale	Aroma	0.19	5.45	3.8	108.93	1.1
	Bittering	0.13	2.38	2.5	47.66	0.79
	Dry Hop	0.09	8.17	1.81	163.4	2.03
	First Wort	0.16	1.5	3.22	29.96	0.53
	Flavor	0.17	2.72	3.4	54.47	0.86
	Hop Stand	0.8	2	16	40	1.4
	Hopback	0.47	3	9.43	59.91	1.49
	Whirlpool	0.02	6.73	0.4	134.62	1.58
American Pale Ale Total		0.02	8.17	0.4	163.4	1.37
Double IPA	Aroma	0.31	5.45	6.24	108.93	1.63
	Bittering	0.31	3	6.24	59.91	1.38
	Dry Hop	0.37	6.89	7.41	137.8	2.29
	Flavor	0.48	3	9.52	59.91	1.47
	Whirlpool	0.37	4.44	7.41	88.89	2.14
Double IPA Total		0.31	6.89	6.24	137.8	1.94
Blonde Ale	Aroma	0.25	3	5	59.91	0.99
	Bittering	0.12	3	2.5	59.91	0.69
	Dry Hop	0.6	5.99	11.98	119.83	1.71
	First Wort	0.17	0.75	3.4	14.98	0.43
	Flavor	0.23	1.5	4.54	29.96	0.81
	Whirlpool	0.25	4.08	5	81.7	1.36
Blonde Ale Total		0.12	5.99	2.5	119.83	1.17

*This data consists of hundreds of thousands of manually input recipes and, despite best efforts, they may contain errors leading to very high max amounts, or be someone’s attempt for experimental brew. You should consider this data more as an overview of how different ingredients were used for different styles to get inspiration. Please do not attempt to add up different lines as it’s all about proportions.

Remember, with Azacca, a little goes a long way.

Don’t go overboard, or you might end up with not-so-tasty fruit salad instead of a beer.

Playing Well with Others

Azacca hops are social butterflies in the brewing world. They love to mingle and create flavor magic with their hop buddies. Let’s dive into their favorite dance partners and stand-ins.

The Blending Buddies

Azacca’s tropical fruit punch really gets the party started when paired with other hops. Citra is its BFF, amplifying those juicy mango and papaya notes. You’ll feel like you’re sipping a fruity cocktail on a beach. But better. Because it’s beer.

Mosaic joins the fun, adding berry and pine to the mix.

Making it soooo fruity with a forest twist. Yum!

El Dorado brings candy-like sweetness, while Simcoe adds a dank edge. It’s a flavor rollercoaster your taste buds won’t forget. Want to go old-new-school? Pair Azacca with Cascade for a citrusy kick that’ll make your IPA sing.

Substitute Stars

Can’t get your hands on Azacca? No worries. Amarillo is your go-to understudy. It brings similar tropical vibes with a citrusy twist. You can also give Citra or Galaxy a go, not the same, but they play in the same team.

Or Mandarina Bavaria if you’re looking for some sweet citrus and stone fruits.

They also got a little bit of that Noble flair with resin and herbs.

Summit hops can pinch-hit too. It should work just fine as one of good bittering replacement options. Just use a light touch – they pack a punch.

Northern Brewer can sub in for bittering too, but you’ll miss out on Azacca’s fruity aroma. Maybe sneak in some fruit at the end to make up for it? Like the ones above, you won’t be disappointed.

Remember, hop pairings are like a flavor playground.

Don’t be afraid to experiment and find your perfect combo.

In Conclusion: The Azacca Anthem

Alright, hop heads! It’s time to raise your glasses to Azacca, the tropical fruit bomb that’s taking the beer world by storm. This little powerhouse is ready to jazz up your brews with its juicy personality.

Want to make an IPA that’ll knock your socks off? Azacca’s got your back. It’s like a fruit salad in hop form, bringing mango, pineapple, and citrus to the party. Your taste buds will be doing the hula in no time.

But don’t pigeonhole this hop superstar. Azacca’s versatility is off the charts. Toss it in a pale ale for a zesty kick, or use it to add some zing to your saisons. It’s the Swiss Army knife of hops.

Here’s a quick rundown of Azacca’s superpowers:

Aroma: Tropical fruit fiesta
Flavor: Citrus punch with a hint of pine
Alpha Acids: 14-16% (It packs a bitter punch!)

Remember, a little Azacca goes a long way. Start small and work your way up.

Your beer will thank you, and so will your taste buds.

So, next time you’re brewing, give Azacca a whirl. It’s time to turn your homebrew into a tropical paradise. Cheers to Azacca, the hop that keeps on giving!

Damian

A lifelong learner, hop enthusiast and a lover of the state of extreme exhaustion.

Finance Analyst in the Investment Bank and co-founder of hopsmatcher.com