Polaris Hops and Best Beer Styles: Hop-timizing Your Brew’s Polar Potential

Reading Time: around 11 min

Polaris hops burst onto the brewing scene in 2012, dazzling brewers with their sky-high alpha acid content. These German-bred beauties pack a punch, boasting a whopping 16.5-23.5% alpha acids.

Polaris hops shine brightest in bitter beers like IPAs and Imperial Stouts.

Where their floral, fruity, minty and piney notes can truly sparkle.

Ever sipped a beer and thought, “Hmm, is that a hint of eucalyptus?” Well, if you have, you might’ve just stumbled upon a Polaris-hopped brew! These versatile hops bring a unique flavor profile to the party, with hints of lemon and pineapple joining the minty madness.

They’re like the cool kid at school who everyone wants to hang out with.

Ready to brew with Polaris? You’re in for a treat! These hops are a bittering powerhouse, so a little goes a long way. But don’t let that stop you from experimenting. Toss them in late for some aroma magic, or dry-hop for an extra flavor kick.

Your taste buds will thank you!

Key Takeaways

Polaris hops pack a bitter punch with 16.5-23.5% alpha acids
They offer unique floral minty, piney, and fruity flavors to your brew
Polaris works great in IPAs and Stouts but invites creative experimentation

Meet Polaris: The Hop That Sparkles Like Its Namesake Star

Polaris hops are the cool kids on the block. They burst onto the scene with minty freshness and sky-high alpha acids. Get ready for a hop that’s as frosty as a penguin’s tuxedo!

Origins: From German Fields to Global Glasses

Picture this: It’s 2012 in Germany. The folks at Hüll’s Hop Research Institute are cooking up something special. Boom! Polaris hops are born. These little green cones quickly became the talk of the town.

You might think German hops are all about tradition.

But Polaris? It’s the rebel child.

It’s like the Germans decided to throw a party and invited mint to crash it. Brewers around the world took notice. Soon, Polaris was jet-setting from German fields to global glasses faster than you can say “Gesundheit!”

Characteristics: Why Polaris is Cooler Than a Polar Bear in Sunglasses

Polaris hops are the mint chip ice cream of the hop world. They bring a frosty blast of mintiness that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance. But that’s not all, folks!

These hops pack a punch with alpha acids that’ll knock your socks off. We’re talking 16.5-23.5%! It’s like they went to alpha acid gym and came back as bodybuilders.

But wait, there’s more! Polaris brings notes of:

Pine – like a Christmas tree in your glass
Lemon – for when life gives you lemons, brew beer!
Pineapple – pretty fancy, right?

Use Polaris for bittering and you’ll get a beer that’s as crisp as a winter morning. Add it late in the boil and pow! You’ve got a minty-floral fresh brew that’ll make your friends green with envy.

Main Characteristics

Purpose: Dual / Universal
Aromas: Floral, Fruity, Minty
Notes: Piney, Spicy, Tropical
Alpha-acids: 16.5% – 23.5% [bitterness added through boiling]
Beta-acids: 4.0% – 6.5% [bitterness added through maturation]
Cohumulone: 22% – 29% of alpha-acids [bitterness profile: low = smooth, high = sharp]
Hops oil breakdown: 4.0 – 5.0 mL / 100g [responsible for flavors and aromas]
- Myrcene: 45% – 50% [resinous, citrus, fruity]
- Humulene: 20% – 35% [noble, woody, spicy]
- Caryophyllene: 8% – 13% [spicy, piney, herbal]
- Farnesene: 0% – 1% [fresh, green, floral]

Aroma and Flavor Profile: Sniff, Swirl, Sip, and Savor

Get ready for a sensory rollercoaster! Polaris hops pack a punch that’ll make your nose tingle and taste buds dance. Let’s dive into this hop’s wild ride of scents and flavors.

The Scent of Adventure: Aroma Breakdown

Pop open a beer with Polaris hops and BAM! Your nose is hit with a minty fresh breeze. It’s like Mother Nature decided to make a hop-flavored toothpaste. You’ll catch whiffs of pine that’ll transport you to a forest getaway.

But wait, there’s more!

Lemon and pineapple scents sneak in, giving you a tropical twist. It’s like a piña colada crashed your pine forest party. And just when you think you’ve got it figured out, a cool menthol note slides in, leaving you refreshed and slightly confused.

Taste Bud Tango: Decoding Flavors

Take a sip and let the flavor fiesta begin! Polaris hops bring a minty coolness that’ll make you wonder if you accidentally swallowed your mouthwash. But in a good way, I promise!

The pine flavor kicks in next, making you feel like you’re smelling a Christmas tree. Weird? Not really. Delicious? Absolutely! Pear notes add a touch of sweetness, balancing out the minty madness.

Here’s a quick flavor breakdown:

Mint: 🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿
Pine: 🌲🌲🌲🌲
Menthol: ❄️❄️❄️
Fruit (lemon, pineapple, pear): 🍋🍍🍐

Your taste buds won’t know what hit ’em, but they’ll be begging for more!

Polaris Hops in the Brewery: More Than Just a Bitter Friend

Polaris hops pack a punch in your brew kettle. These German powerhouses bring more to the party than just bitter vibes. Alright, let’s jump right into what we’re here for – their brewing magic!

Alpha to Omega: Brewing Values and Oil Composition

Polaris hops are alpha acid rockstars, boasting a whopping 16.5-23.5% content. That’s some serious bite! But there’s more to these green gems than just bitterness.

Their oil composition is a flavor fiesta. You’ll find:

Myrcene: Up to 50% (hello, fruity notes!)
Humulene: Up to 35% (spice, herbal baby!)
Ocimene: Bringing sweet, earthy vibes

Don’t forget the total oil content – it’s off the charts! These oils give Polaris its unique personality. Think mint, eucalyptus, and a twist of lemon. Your taste buds won’t know what hit ’em!

The Dual Purpose Dilemma: Bittering vs. Flavor

Polaris hops are the Swiss Army knives of brewing.

They’re not just bitter bombs – they’re flavor ninjas too!

For bittering:

Use early in the boil
A little goes a long way (thanks, high alpha!)

For flavor and aroma:

Add late in the boil or dry hop
Get ready for minty, fruity goodness

Why choose? Use Polaris for both! It’s like getting two hops for the price of one.

Talk about a bargain brew!

Timing the Drop: When to Add Polaris into the Mix

Timing is everything with Polaris hops. Here’s your hop schedule cheat sheet:

🕐 60 minutes: Bitter it up!

🕑 15 minutes: Flavor town, here we come

🕒 5 minutes or less: Aroma explosion

🕓 Dry hopping: Maximum flavor impact

Remember, a little Polaris goes a long way. Start small and adjust to your taste. You don’t want to end up with a mint toothpaste beer. Unless that’s your thing, no judgment here.

Experiment with different timings to find your sweet spot.

Who knows? You might create the next hop sensation!

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	0.05	0.64	0.24	3.18	0.15
	Bittering	0.03	0.42	0.13	2.1	0.11
	Dry Hop	0.03	1.27	0.13	6.36	0.28
	First Wort	0.02	0.08	0.11	0.4	0.06
	Flavor	0.07	0.25	0.33	1.27	0.14
	Hop Stand	0.18	0.36	0.91	1.82	0.27
	Whirlpool	0.03	0.3	0.16	1.52	0.13
American IPA Total		0.02	1.27	0.11	6.36	0.16
American Pale Ale	Aroma	0.02	0.14	0.12	0.72	0.08
	Bittering	0.02	0.11	0.12	0.53	0.06
	Dry Hop	0.12	0.52	0.58	2.58	0.3
	First Wort	0.01	0.05	0.03	0.24	0.03
	Flavor	0.02	0.09	0.12	0.45	0.06
	Whirlpool	0.06	0.38	0.3	1.89	0.22
American Pale Ale Total		0.01	0.52	0.03	2.58	0.1
New England IPA	Aroma	0.06	0.17	0.32	0.83	0.1
	Bittering	0.05	0.37	0.27	1.85	0.12
	Dry Hop	0.07	0.3	0.37	1.5	0.25
	Flavor	0.04	0.08	0.21	0.42	0.05
	Whirlpool	0.17	0.3	0.83	1.48	0.2
New England IPA Total		0.04	0.37	0.21	1.85	0.17
Double IPA	Aroma	0.08	0.08	0.42	0.42	0.08
	Bittering	0.05	0.18	0.23	0.91	0.11
	Dry Hop	0.05	0.4	0.23	2	0.24
	Flavor	0.09	0.28	0.45	1.39	0.19
	Whirlpool	0.09	0.18	0.45	0.91	0.16
Double IPA Total		0.05	0.4	0.23	2	0.17
Imperial IPA	Bittering	0.1	0.23	0.48	1.16	0.16
	Dry Hop	0.06	0.3	0.28	1.5	0.21
	Flavor	0.06	0.17	0.28	0.87	0.1
	Whirlpool	0.06	0.2	0.28	1	0.13
Imperial IPA Total		0.06	0.3	0.28	1.5	0.16
Black IPA	Aroma	0.04	0.45	0.22	2.23	0.28
	Bittering	0.06	0.2	0.3	1	0.12
	Flavor	0.02	0.09	0.12	0.45	0.05
Black IPA Total		0.02	0.45	0.12	2.23	0.17

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	0.36	4.76	7.13	95.24	1.1
	Bittering	0.19	3.15	3.85	63	0.86
	Dry Hop	0.19	9.52	3.85	190.48	2.08
	First Wort	0.16	0.6	3.17	12	0.45
	Flavor	0.5	1.9	10	38.1	1.02
	Hop Stand	1.36	2.72	27.23	54.47	2.04
	Whirlpool	0.24	2.28	4.76	45.59	1.01
American IPA Total		0.16	9.52	3.17	190.48	1.2
American Pale Ale	Aroma	0.18	1.07	3.57	21.43	0.56
	Bittering	0.18	0.79	3.57	15.79	0.47
	Dry Hop	0.87	3.87	17.39	77.31	2.19
	First Wort	0.05	0.36	1	7.13	0.21
	Flavor	0.18	0.67	3.57	13.37	0.44
	Whirlpool	0.44	2.83	8.89	56.52	1.64
American Pale Ale Total		0.05	3.87	1	77.31	0.72
New England IPA	Aroma	0.48	1.25	9.62	25	0.74
	Bittering	0.4	2.78	8	55.56	0.92
	Dry Hop	0.56	2.25	11.11	44.93	1.85
	Flavor	0.31	0.63	6.25	12.5	0.42
	Whirlpool	1.25	2.22	24.96	44.44	1.49
New England IPA Total		0.31	2.78	6.25	55.56	1.28
Double IPA	Aroma	0.63	0.63	12.5	12.5	0.63
	Bittering	0.34	1.36	6.81	27.23	0.82
	Dry Hop	0.34	3	6.81	60	1.77
	Flavor	0.68	2.09	13.62	41.74	1.39
	Whirlpool	0.68	1.36	13.62	27.23	1.21
Double IPA Total		0.34	3	6.81	60	1.29
Imperial IPA	Bittering	0.71	1.74	14.29	34.78	1.22
	Dry Hop	0.42	2.25	8.33	44.93	1.6
	Flavor	0.42	1.3	8.33	26.09	0.74
	Whirlpool	0.42	1.5	8.33	29.96	0.96
Imperial IPA Total		0.42	2.25	8.33	44.93	1.22
Black IPA	Aroma	0.33	3.33	6.67	66.67	2.1
	Bittering	0.45	1.5	9.09	30	0.89
	Flavor	0.18	0.68	3.64	13.62	0.4
Black IPA Total		0.18	3.33	3.64	66.67	1.25

*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.

Perfect Pairings: Beer Styles That Play Nice with Polaris

Polaris hops are like that cool friend who spices up any party. They bring a fruity, minty, piney punch that can turn a ho-hum brew into a flavor explosion. Followed by floral notes. Let’s dive into some beer styles where Polaris shines brighter than a disco ball.

Cool as an Ale: From Pale to Stout

Pale Ales and IPAs are Polaris’ playground. Toss in 0.5-1 oz per 5 gallons at the 60-minute mark for bittering, then go wild with a full ounce to 1.5 oz in the last 5 minutes for aroma.

You’ll get a crisp, minty kick that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance.

Feeling bold? Try a Polaris-powered Stout. Add 1 oz for bittering and 1 oz at flameout. The mint and pine notes will play nice with the roasty flavors, creating a winter wonderland in your mouth.

For a real treat, whip up a Blonde Ale with 0.5 oz at 60 minutes and 1 oz at flameout.

It’s like a refreshing mojito, but better ’cause it’s beer!

Lively Lagers: Finding Harmony with a Bold Hop

Don’t let anyone tell you lagers can’t handle Polaris. They’re wrong, and you’re about to prove it. In a Pilsner, use 0.5 oz at 60 minutes for a clean bitterness, then 0.5 oz at 5 minutes for a subtle aroma.

It’s like a breath of fresh mountain air in every sip.

For a bolder approach, try an India Pale Lager. Go for 1 oz at 60 minutes, 1 oz at 15 minutes, and 1 oz at flameout. You’ll create a crisp, clean lager with a minty, piney punch that’ll knock your lederhosen off.

Crafting Unique Blends: Special Beers with a Polaris Touch

Ready to get weird? Let’s do it! How about a Polaris Saison? Use 0.5 oz at 60 minutes and 1 oz at flameout. The minty notes will tango with the peppery yeast flavors, creating a farmhouse ale that’s fresher than a cow’s breath after eating a pack of mints.

Or try a Polaris Wheat Beer. Add 0.5 oz at 15 minutes and 1 oz at flameout. It’s like drinking a pine forest wrapped in a fluffy wheat blanket. Might sound odd, yet tastes amazing.

For the brave, attempt a Polaris Sour. Use 0.5 oz at flameout and 1 oz for dry hopping. The mint and pine will cut through the tartness like a lightsaber through butter. May the froth be with you!

Polaris Hops vs. Other Varieties: Companions & Substitutions

Polaris hops pack a punch with their high alpha acids and unique floral-fruity-minty-pine flavor. Let’s explore how to use them with friends or find stand-ins when they go MIA.

When Polaris is Missing in Action

Can’t find Polaris? Don’t panic! You’ve got options. Try subbing in Columbus or Magnum for bittering – they’re both alpha acid powerhouses. For that minty-pine aroma, Chinook, Fuggle or Northern Brewer might do the trick.

Remember, it’s all about experimentation, so who knows?

You might stumble upon a happy accident that becomes your new secret weapon.

Pro tip: Keep a stash of versatile hops like Cascade or Centennial on hand. They are your Navy Seals of the hop world. Versatile and multi-purpose and can pinch-hit in a variety of styles.

Usually Paired Varieties with Polaris

Polaris plays well with others, but choose its buddies wisely. Pair it with fruity hops like Citra or Mosaic to create a flavor explosion in your IPAs. The mint-meets-tropical combo is a real crowd-pleaser.

For a more traditional German lager…

…try coupling Polaris with Noble hops like Hallertau or Tettnang.

Want to get wild? Throw some spicy Saaz into the mix for a unique twist on a Pilsner. Remember, brewing is part science, part art. Don’t be afraid to break the rules and create your own hop masterpiece!

Growing and Harvesting: The Life of Polaris on the Farm

Polaris hops are a hardy bunch, but they’ll keep you on your toes!

From planting to picking, these minty marvels have a few tricks up their sleeves.

From Sprout to Stalk: The Growth Cycle

You’ll start your Polaris adventure in spring. Pop those rhizomes in the ground and watch ’em go! These speedy growers will shoot up faster than your beer budget. By mid-summer, you’ll be staring at towering 20-foot vines.

Polaris loves to stretch out, so give ’em room to climb. They’re not picky eaters, but a little TLC goes a long way. Water deeply and often, and they’ll reward you with lush, green bines.

Come August, you’ll spot those precious cones forming.

It’s like Christmas in summer for hop heads!

Bumper Crop or Bust: Disease and Harvest Challenges

Polaris puts up a good fight against pests, but it’s not invincible. Keep an eye out for downy mildew – it’s the party pooper of the hop world. Good air flow is your best defense.

Harvest time rolls around in late August to early September. You’ll know they’re ready when they feel papery and smell divine. But don’t dawdle! These cones wait for no one.

Picking can be a sticky business. Grab some gloves and prepare for a workout. Your reward? Armfuls of aromatic cones that’ll make your homebrews sing with minty, pineapple notes.

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