Ella Hops: The Best Brew Styles for This Down Under Wonder

Reading Time: around 13 min

If you’re the adventurous type when it comes to brewing, let me introduce you to your new beer-brewing comrade: Ella hops. Hailing from the land down under, Australia’s gift to the beer world is as versatile as a Swiss Army knife.

Think of Ella as the spice rack of the hop world. A little sprinkle here and there, and boom, flavor town. The secret? She’s not just a one-trick pony. Her chameleon-like ability allows you to dress up almost any beer style.

From the humble Pale Ale to the hop-mania of an IPA.

But where Ella hops truly shine is in those beers where you want an aromatic waltz with a floral hint and a subtle grapefruit crescendo. Ella’s got a knack for giving your brew a unique twist.

Putting a floral crown on the head of any hoppy concoction.

You’ll be the Picasso of the pint, painting a cascade of flavors with just a hop pellet or two. So, next time you’re plotting your brewing conquest, remember that adding Ella to the mix is like inviting the life of the party.

Things are bound to get interesting.

Key Takeaways

Ella hops, predominantly Australian, offer unique versatility in beer flavoring.
Best used in hop-forward styles, Ella lends a complex aroma of floral and fruity notes.
Employ Ella hops for an experimental twist in traditional and modern brewing practices.

Getting to Know Ella Hops

Ella hops, your future best bud in brewing. It got a few tricks up its sleeve.

Hail from down under and pack a punch with their floral and spicy notes.

The cool part? It has two sets of aromas to offer. Read on.

Where Does it Come From?

You might not think of Australia as a hop mecca. But the land of ‘roos and barbies is also home to the hop variety known as Ella. It’s like the cool cousin of the hop family, born from a breeding program that must have had taste buds for parents.

These hops are grown in Tasmania.

Yup, the same place as that devil cartoon you’re thinking of.

Which turns out to be a hop haven with an ideal climate.

Region: Tasmania, Australia
Key Features: High oil content, fruity, floral and spicy character

Main Characteristics

Purpose: Dual / Universal
Less Intense Hopping Aromas: Floral, Spicy,
More Intense Hopping Aromas: Tropical, Stone Fruit, Citrus
Notes: Anise, Grapefruit, Berries
Alpha-acids: 13.5% – 19.0% [bitterness added through boiling]
Beta-acids: 4.0% – 7.8% [bitterness added through lagering]
Cohumulone: 33% – 40% of alpha-acids [bitterness profile: low = smooth, high = sharp]
Hops oil breakdown: 2.4 – 3.4 mL / 100g [responsible for flavors and aromas]
- Myrcene: 34% – 50% [resinous, citrus, fruity]
- Humulene: 16% – 22% [noble, woody, spicy]
- Caryophyllene: 5% – 18% [spicy, piney, herbal]
- Farnesene: 0% – 1% [fresh, green, floral]

The Hop Family Tree

When we talk family trees, Ella’s is more like a family bine. Ella hops snatched up some good genes, being a half-sibling to the more widely recognized Galaxy hops.

Thanks to their rich lineage, these hops bring the bold aroma and boisterous flavors you’re yearning for in your brews. With its high oil content, Ella oozes charisma.

The one that makes it a standout hop ella-vating your beer to royalty status.

Aroma:
- Floral and spicy on less intense hopping
- Tropical and citrus fruits on more intense hopping
Personality: Bold, makes an entrance at the beer party
Half-Sibling: Galaxy hops

The Botanical Breakdown

Buckle up, beer Jedi, as you’re about to zoom through the hops galaxy focusing on the star of the show. Ella hops. These are not your garden-variety hops. They pack a punch in the brewing cosmos!

Alpha Acid and Beta Acid Magic

Hear the term “alpha acids,” and you might think of a chemistry class you snoozed through, but stay with me here. Ella’s alpha acids are the superheroes in your beer, bringing in the bitterness that gives balance to all that malty sweetness you love.

Ella hops rock an alpha acid content.

Typically somewhere in the 14-18% range, blasting bitterness into your brew.

Kapow! That’s pretty decent.

On the flip side, let’s not give the cold shoulder to the beta acids. They’re like the best mate of alpha acids, stepping up the complexity of flavor and aroma. The beta acid content for Ella hops is slightly more modest, lounging at around 4-7%.

That’s enough to work its quiet magic without stealing the alpha show.

Oil Content and Its Entourage

Now, let’s shift gears to the oil content, which is where Ella struts its stuff. Total oil content sits at a respectable 2.4-3.4 mL/100g. This is your ticket to Flavor Town, with a VIP pass no less.

Within this oily goodness, you’ve got a cast of characters:

Myrcene: think of it as the life of the party, dominant and fruity. Like the DJ turning the aroma up with juicy tunes.
Caryophyllene: the spicy amigo, bringing a touch of pizzazz with subtle pepper and anise notes. Not bad.
Farnesene: oh-so-rare in many hops, this one whispers sweet nothings of floral into your brew. #gems

Let’s not forget our friend co-humulone. The smooth cousin of alpha acids, sitting at usual 34%-38% of alpha acids in Ella. A playful accomplice that won’t throw your beer’s balance out of whack with harsh bitterness.

Alright, you’ve now been through the botanical rollercoaster that is Ella hops.

With these alpha and beta acid numbers. Not to mention the oil entourage. You’re geared up to make a hoppy masterpiece that’ll knock the socks off any hop head. Cheers to your brewing epic stories!

Aroma Profile: From Florals to Fruit Baskets

Let’s take a nose dive into the dazzling world of Ella hops and their aroma profile. Imagine a bouquet of floral notes. That’s where Ella hops start with a gentle hop touch. They give you that soft spice vibe that tickles your senses reminiscent of.

Let’s say, a spring garden party in your nostrils.

Now, with a light hand, Ella hops are like that mysterious character in your favorite sitcom. Unassuming yet remarkably present with hints of anise swirling around.

But hey, don’t get too comfy there. Jack up the hopping rate, and Ella transforms like a superhero in a cape – bam! – tropical fruit, peach, and citrus galore. Grapefruit in particular.

It’s like a fruit basket avalanche in a pint.

Here’s a cheeky little guide for you:

Usage	Aroma Note
Gentle Hopping	Floral, Anise, Spice
Heroic Hopping	Tropical Fruit, Grapefruit, Peach

What’s the secret, you ask? Well, a compound called linalool plays a big role. It’s the hop’s way of whispering sweet nothings to your beer. And if you’re thinking grapefruit, Ella nods with a winky face.

She’s that well-rounded friend that’s fabulous in a variety of settings.

So, if you’re brewing a batch and want to tip it from elegant floral whispers to a rollicking tropical fruit fiesta, remember this. Ella’s dual personalities will turn your beer from a mere beverage into a storytelling session.

Just the right hop for when you want your pint to say, “I’ve got layers, darling!”

Ella Hops in Beer Styles

If you’re brewing and yearning for a pop of unique character, you can’t go wrong with Ella hops. They’re like the secret handshake of zesty flavor in the beer world.

Let’s dive into how Ella hops can jazz up your next homebrew.

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	0.03	1.02	0.15	5.1	0.19
	Bittering	0.02	0.3	0.1	1.52	0.12
	Dry Hop	0.06	1.33	0.29	6.67	0.31
	First Wort	0.02	0.07	0.09	0.35	0.05
	Flavor	0.03	1.28	0.14	6.42	0.17
	Mash	0.17	0.17	0.83	0.83	0.17
	Whirlpool	0.04	1	0.18	5	0.22
American IPA Total		0.02	1.33	0.09	6.67	0.22
American Pale Ale	Aroma	0.02	0.55	0.1	2.73	0.13
	Bittering	0.02	0.18	0.1	0.89	0.07
	Dry Hop	0.03	0.72	0.15	3.61	0.21
	First Wort	0.04	0.07	0.2	0.37	0.06
	Flavor	0.03	0.18	0.15	0.91	0.08
	Hopback	0.12	0.12	0.59	0.59	0.12
	Whirlpool	0.04	0.67	0.18	3.33	0.18
American Pale Ale Total		0.02	0.72	0.1	3.61	0.14
New England IPA	Aroma	0.13	0.4	0.64	2	0.22
	Bittering	0.03	0.1	0.17	0.52	0.07
	Dry Hop	0.05	1.45	0.23	7.27	0.36
	Flavor	0.03	0.17	0.17	0.83	0.07
	Hop Stand	0.06	0.12	0.29	0.58	0.09
	Whirlpool	0.05	0.75	0.23	3.75	0.28
New England IPA Total		0.03	1.45	0.17	7.27	0.29
Saison	Aroma	0.05	0.45	0.25	2.23	0.12
	Bittering	0.05	0.09	0.23	0.45	0.06
	Dry Hop	0.1	0.36	0.5	1.82	0.23
	First Wort	0.08	0.08	0.42	0.42	0.08
	Flavor	0.05	0.1	0.23	0.5	0.08
	Whirlpool	0.1	0.36	0.5	1.82	0.19
Saison Total		0.05	0.45	0.23	2.23	0.11
Blonde Ale	Aroma	0.06	0.33	0.3	1.67	0.13
	Bittering	0.12	0.18	0.58	0.88	0.15
	Dry Hop	0.09	0.4	0.45	2	0.2
	Flavor	0.07	0.18	0.36	0.88	0.11
	Hopback	0.09	0.09	0.45	0.45	0.09
	Whirlpool	0.08	0.33	0.4	1.67	0.16
Blonde Ale Total		0.06	0.4	0.3	2	0.14

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	0.22	7.63	4.35	152.63	1.42
	Bittering	0.15	2.27	2.95	45.45	0.87
	Dry Hop	0.43	9.99	8.7	199.71	2.33
	First Wort	0.14	0.53	2.72	10.57	0.34
	Flavor	0.2	9.62	4.08	192.31	1.24
	Mash	1.25	1.25	24.96	24.96	1.25
	Whirlpool	0.27	7.49	5.45	149.78	1.66
American IPA Total		0.14	9.99	2.72	199.71	1.67
American Pale Ale	Aroma	0.15	4.08	3	81.7	0.98
	Bittering	0.15	1.33	3	26.67	0.56
	Dry Hop	0.22	5.41	4.44	108.23	1.58
	First Wort	0.3	0.55	6	10.99	0.44
	Flavor	0.22	1.36	4.44	27.23	0.62
	Hopback	0.88	0.88	17.65	17.65	0.88
	Whirlpool	0.26	4.99	5.26	99.86	1.32
American Pale Ale Total		0.15	5.41	3	108.23	1.07
New England IPA	Aroma	0.95	3	19.05	59.91	1.66
	Bittering	0.25	0.78	5	15.63	0.51
	Dry Hop	0.34	10.89	6.81	217.87	2.66
	Flavor	0.25	1.25	5	24.96	0.54
	Hop Stand	0.43	0.87	8.7	17.39	0.65
	Whirlpool	0.34	5.62	6.81	112.34	2.13
New England IPA Total		0.25	10.89	5	217.87	2.14
Saison	Aroma	0.37	3.33	7.49	66.67	0.92
	Bittering	0.34	0.68	6.81	13.62	0.44
	Dry Hop	0.75	2.72	14.98	54.47	1.74
	First Wort	0.63	0.63	12.5	12.5	0.63
	Flavor	0.34	0.75	6.81	14.98	0.59
	Whirlpool	0.75	2.72	14.98	54.47	1.43
Saison Total		0.34	3.33	6.81	66.67	0.82
Blonde Ale	Aroma	0.45	2.5	9.09	50	0.97
	Bittering	0.87	1.32	17.39	26.32	1.1
	Dry Hop	0.68	3	13.62	59.91	1.49
	Flavor	0.53	1.32	10.7	26.32	0.81
	Hopback	0.68	0.68	13.62	13.62	0.68
	Whirlpool	0.6	2.5	11.9	49.93	1.23
Blonde Ale Total		0.45	3	9.09	59.91	1.07

*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.

A Perfect Match for Pale Ales

Your pale ale won’t know what hit it when you introduce Ella hops.

Think grapefruit, floral notes, and just a hint of spice. Kind of like a garden party in your mouth. Toss in these beauties during the last 5-10 minutes of your boil to give your pale ale an aroma that could lure a bee from three yards away.

Ideal Usage: Aroma & Whirlpool
Typical Amount: 2-3 oz for 5 gallons

Lagers Love Ella Too

Surprise! Lagers and Ella are like two peas in a pod. Crisp, clean pilsners or a dandy lager turn into a refreshing escape with Ella’s slight anise twist and noble lineage. Early additions help balance bitterness while late additions bring that signature Ella zing.

Ideal Usage: Bittering & late addition
Typical Amount: 0.5-1.5 oz for 5 gallons

Stouts and IPAs’ Secret Ingredient

Let’s get stout about it. Ella hops aren’t just for light beers. They can give your stout a subtle complexity that’s dark and intriguing, much like your favorite midnight snack.

And for IPAs, whether it’s a robust classic or a trendy Session IPA…

…Ella’s versatility will make it the life of the party.

Ideal Usage: Dry hopping & flame out
Typical Amount: 3-4 oz for 5 gallons (IPAs), 1-2 oz for 5 gallons (Stouts)

Take it from me, mate. Flex your brewing muscles with Ella hops, and your beer styles will thank you. Just remember to keep an eye on those amounts unless you want to end up with a hop monster under your bed.

Brewing with Ella Hops: Tips and Tricks

Before you plunge into your next brewing adventure with Ella hops…

…let’s skim over the essentials that’ll make or break your hoppy masterpiece.

The Great Balancing Act

What’s brewing up, doc?

With Ella, you’re juggling flavors like you’re the bartender in a circus. This hop hits the sweet spot between bitterness and aroma, making it a dual-purpose hop wonder. Think of Ella as the tightrope walker of your brewing process. It’s all about balance.

You’ll want to:

Judge the Timing: For a smack of bitterness, introduce Ella early in the boil. Aiming for that floral and grapefruit aroma? Save some for the last 5 minutes or for dry hopping.
Monitor Dosage: Like salt in soup, the right amount of Ella brings your beer to life without overpowering it. Typically, 1 to 2 ounces should do the trick for a 5-gallon batch.

Substitution Suggestions

Imagine you’ve run out of Ella, and the stores are as empty as a keg at a frat party.

Don’t worry! You can absolutely pinch-hit with these varieties:

Substitute	Note
Galaxy	More peach, less spice. Like Ella’s intergalactic cousin.
Vic Secret	Lower alpha acid but still brings a tropical punch.

Always remember that substitutions are more art than science.

Taste and tweak until it screams “you!”

So there you go, grab your Ella hops, or its stand-ins, and brew that batch like it’s the star of the beer Olympics. Who knows, you might just brew up a storm that’ll make you the neighborhood’s hop whisperer.

Usually Paired With

Ella pairs well with other Australian hops such as Galaxy, Vic Secret, and Topaz, which can complement its fruity and floral notes. Additionally, Ella can be combined with classic American hops like Cascade, Citra, or Amarillo.

This is to enhance the citrus and tropical fruit profile in the brew.

New Zealand varieties like Nelson Sauvin or Motueka can also be a good match.

Bringing in additional layers of white wine and lime characteristics.

For European styles, Ella can be paired with noble hops like Saaz or Tettnanger to add complexity to lagers and pilsners. Or with English varieties like East Kent Goldings or Fuggle to create interesting twists in traditional ales.

When crafting a beer with Ella, consider the style and the flavor profile you’re aiming for. Ella is quite versatile, so it can be used in various combinations to either stand out on its own or to complement other hop flavors.

Whether you’re brewing an IPA, a Saison, or even a lager…

…Ella can contribute a unique and enjoyable character to your beer.

Dry Hopping with Ella

Ella hops, your aromatic new sidekick, can take a beer from good to great with its unique flavor twist. Ready to see how you can make late additions work magic?

Late to the Party: Late Addition Techniques

You’ve likely heard the phrase “fashionably late”. Well, in the world of brewing, Ella hops are the epitome of cool. Arriving late to the show but totally stealing it. By adding them late in the boiling process or during fermentation, you unlock their true potential.

Late additions of Ella hops are your ticket to an unforgettable aroma profile.

The one that’s both complex and delightful. Imagine floral with a hint of spice.

Or fruity parade with peaches, grapefruits and even berries.

What’s really fun about late hopping with Ella is their alpha-beta ratio and high alpha acid content. Which means you get all the aroma without turning your beer into a bitter battleground.

Here’s a quick rundown:

Aroma Profile: Think floral with a grapefruit kick that sneaks up on you like a ninja at a fruit stand.
Dry Hop Magic: Throw these puppies in during fermentation to boost flavor without extra bitterness.

Remember, late additions of Ella hops are akin to that unexpected twist in your favorite sitcom. Surprising, a little quirky, but something you can’t stop talking about. So, go ahead and experiment.

Ella’s ready to play the late addition game.

And trust me, your taste buds will thank you.

Ella’s Global Impact and Availability

Alright, let’s take a hop-skip down to Australia, because that’s where your new beery gal, Ella, hails from. Originally conjured up by the magicians at Hop Products Australia in 2001, this hop has been jazzing up beers globally since 2011.

Why should you care? Well, Ella, a sassy half-sister to the famous Galaxy hop, flaunts her stuff with a similar, yet distinct spicy kick and floral aroma. She’s like the cooler, less in-your-face sibling to Galaxy, perfect for when you want to dial it back a notch.

Here’s the scoop on availability.

Getting your hands on Ella can be easier than snagging a cold one on a scorching Aussie day. Thanks to her growing popularity, she’s often stocked on shelves and online platforms like Amazon. No need for a boomerang, she’ll come straight to you.

Australian Heritage:

Bred by: Hop Products Australia
Comparable to: Galaxy, but with a Noble twist
The Stella Effect: that’s Ella’s previous name

Don’t expect to find Ella in every random corner shop, though.

Unlike the everywhere presence of something like Nelson, Ella plays a bit hard to get sometimes. But when you do find her, it’s like striking gold in the Aussie hop outback.

Stock Up, Mate:

Online retailers (Yes, Amazon has it!)
Specialty brew shops
Direct from Down Under suppliers

Go on, give Ella a whirl in your next brew and add a dash of Aussie charm to your beer. She’s a global hop with a distinctly Australian twist. Spicy, floral, and a hit at parties. Just don’t expect her to show up in lupulin powder form; she’s an old-fashioned gal at heart.

Cheers to Ella, mate!

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