Lemongrass Aroma in Hops: When Your Beer Thinks It’s Thai Food

The captivating aroma of lemongrass in beer adds a fresh, citrusy twist that can transport your taste buds to a sunny garden. When you’re looking to create these bright, zesty notes in your brew, certain hop varieties can do the heavy lifting. 

Contessa hops bring smooth lemongrass notes.

Along with green tea and light pear aromas.

Making them perfect for lagers and other crisp beer styles.

Modern hop breeding has given us some exciting options for creating lemongrass character naturally. X14, a newer experimental variety from CLS Farms, packs a punch with its lemongrass and lime zest profile. 

It plays well with stone fruit notes too.

Giving you lots of room to get creative with your hop combinations.

Key Takeaways

• Several hop varieties naturally produce distinct lemongrass aromas in beer
• Lemongrass character works best in lighter, crisp beer styles like lagers
• Modern experimental hop varieties offer new ways to create complex citrus profiles

Hop Varieties With Lemongrass Flavors And Aromas

Want to add some zesty lemongrass character to your next brew? 

You’re in luck – several hop varieties can bring those bright, citrusy notes to your beer.

Contessa is your new best friend for lemongrass vibes. This USA-grown hop delivers green tea and floral notes alongside that signature lemongrass punch. With 3-5% alpha acids, it works great in lagers where you want subtle complexity.

Dr Rudi hops bring a gentle lemongrass touch with noble hop refinement. You’ll get pine and lemon notes that play nicely with the lemongrass character. This New Zealand variety keeps things on check at 10-13% alpha acids.

Other Varieties With Lemongrass Notes:

• Styrian Wolf: Intense tropical fruit + lemongrass
• Hallertau Blanc: Wine-like fruity with subtle lemongrass
• Sorachi Ace: Bold citrus and lemongrass tones

Pro tip: Add these hops late in the boil or dry hop to preserve those lovely lemongrass aromatics. The volatile oils that create these flavors can evaporate quickly during a long boil.

Want to amp up the lemongrass? Try combining two or more of these varieties. Contessa and Hallertau Blanc make an especially nice pairing when you’re after those fresh citrusy notes.

The Other Ways Of Getting Lemongrass Aromas In Beers

Want that fresh lemongrass kick without relying on hops? You’ve got options! 

Let’s explore some fun ways to add this zesty note to your brews.

The most direct path is adding real lemongrass stalks to your beer. You can toss them in during the last 5-10 minutes of the boil for a gentle touch, or in the fermenter for a bolder flavor. Pro tip: crush the stalks first to release more of those tasty oils.

Common additions rates for fresh lemongrass:

• Boil: 0.5-1 oz per 5 gallons
• Fermenter: 1-2 oz per 5 gallons
• Dry “hopping”: 2-3 stalks per 5 gallons

Some brewers use lemongrass tea bags in the fermenter. This gives you more control over the intensity and keeps things nice and clean. Just steep them like you’re making a giant cup of tea!

You can also find natural lemongrass extract at many homebrew shops. Start small with these – just a few drops can pack quite a punch. Think of it like hot sauce – you can always add more!

Pairing lemongrass with other ingredients creates amazing combos. Try it with ginger, lime zest, or kaffir lime leaves. These flavors work together like best friends at a party.

Remember to keep your equipment extra clean when using these additions.

Nobody wants funky off-flavors crashing your lemongrass party!

Beer Styles Suitable For Lemongrass Aromas And Flavors

You’ll find lemongrass-forward beers shine brightest in Belgian Saisons. Where the zesty character plays nicely with spicy yeast notes. The bright citrus kick brings a refreshing twist to these farmhouse ales.

American Pale Ales and IPAs welcome lemongrass notes with open arms. These styles already rock citrus and tropical flavors. So adding a touch of lemongrass feels right at home alongside grapefruit, orange, and pine notes.

Want to get funky? Witbiers love a good lemongrass companion. The herbal, citrusy character meshes perfectly with the style’s coriander and orange peel. Plus, the light body lets those subtle flavors take center stage.

Popular styles for lemongrass character:

• Belgian Saison
• American Pale Ale
• IPA
• Witbier
• Light Lagers
• Summer Ales

Looking for something lighter? Clean, crisp lagers provide an excellent canvas for lemongrass to show off. Your friends won’t believe how refreshing these can be on a hot summer day.

The best part? You can dial the lemongrass intensity up or down. A subtle hint works great in delicate styles, while bigger beers can handle a more pronounced lemongrass punch.