Southern Cross Hops and Beer Styles: A Hoppy Adventure Down Under

Reading Time: around 12 min

Southern Cross hops are like the cool kid from Down Under who’s ready to shake up your brew game. Born in New Zealand in 1994, these unique hops bring a flavor punch that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance.

Southern Cross hops shine in pale ales, IPAs, and lagers…

…adding a zesty twist of lemon and pine to your favorite brews.

Want to impress your beer-loving buddies? Throw some Southern Cross into your next homebrew and watch their eyes light up. These versatile hops play well with others, so don’t be shy about mixing them up.

Whether you’re crafting a crisp lager or a bold IPA, Southern Cross has got your back.

Key Takeaways

Southern Cross hops add unique lemon and pine flavors to beer
They excel in various styles like pale ales, IPAs, and lagers
These versatile hops can be used for bittering, flavor, and aroma

Hopping Into Southern Cross Origin

Ever wondered where Southern Cross hops come from? Well, buckle up, brew buddy. These little green cones hail from the land of kiwis and hobbits – New Zealand.

Born in 1994, Southern Cross is the lovechild of New Zealand’s hop breeding program. It’s like the cool kid on the block, with Smooth Cone as one parent and a funky 1950s research variety as the other.

This hop’s family tree is quite the international affair:

Grandpa: North American “Cali” hop
Grandma: English Fuggle
Mom: Smooth Cone (Kiwi native)

Talk about a global hop-mance. The result? A hop that’s as unique as a sheep in sunglasses.

Southern Cross brings a zesty citrus kick to your brews, with a spicy twist that’ll make your taste buds do a little dance. It’s like a flavor fiesta in your mouth.

Want to use Southern Cross in your next brew? Here are some hot tips:

Great for: Pale Ales, IPAs, Lagers
Flavor profile: Citrusy, spicy, with a hint of pine
Aroma: Like a lemon grove in a pine forest

So next time you’re brewing, give Southern Cross a whirl.

Your beer might just thank you with a crisp Kiwi accent.

The Anatomy of Southern Cross Hops

Southern Cross hops are like a secret weapon in your brewing arsenal. These little green cones pack a punch of flavor and aroma that’ll make your taste buds dance. Let’s dive into what makes them tick.

Main Characteristics

Purpose: Dual / Universal
Aromas: Lemon, Lemon Zest, Pine Needles
Notes: Lime, Passion Fruit, Floral, Spicy
Alpha-acids: 11.0% – 14.0% [bitterness added through boiling]
Beta-acids: 5.0% – 7.0% [bitterness added through maturation]
Cohumulone: 25% – 28% of alpha-acids [bitterness profile: low = smooth, high = sharp]
Hops oil breakdown: 1.0 – 1.8 mL / 100g [responsible for flavors and aromas]
- Myrcene: 31% – 33% [resinous, citrus, fruity]
- Humulene: 20% – 21% [noble, woody, spicy]
- Caryophyllene: 6% – 7% [spicy, piney, herbal]
- Farnesene: 7% – 8% [fresh, green, floral]

Alpha Acids: The Bitter Truth

Ever wondered why your beer has that delightful bite? Thank the alpha acids! Southern Cross hops boast a respectable alpha acid content, ranging from 11% to 14% #respectable.

That’s enough to give your brew a solid bitter backbone without going overboard.

Think of alpha acids as the spice in your beer chili – you want enough to make it interesting, but not so much that you’re breathing fire. With Southern Cross, you’ll hit that sweet spot every time.

Beta Acids and Cohumulone: The Flavor Dancers

Beta acids and cohumulone are the life of the party in your brew. Southern Cross has a moderate cohumulone level, which means it’ll give your beer a smooth bitterness without any harsh edges.

The beta acids? They’re like time-release flavor capsules. As your beer ages, they break down and add complexity to the taste. It’s like your brew is aging like a fine wine, but way cooler because, you know, it’s beer.

The Oils: Myrcene, Farnesene, and the Aromatic Gang

Now for the real fun part – the oils. Southern Cross is loaded with myrcene, giving your beer those lovely citrus and pine notes. It’s like a forest and a fruit orchard had a baby in your glass.

Farnesene adds a hint of floral and fruity aromas, while other oils bring in spicy and herbal notes. With a total oil content of 1-1.8 ml per 100g, you’re in for an aromatic treat.

Mix and match these oils, and you’ve got a flavor profile that’s as complex…

…as your ex’s reasons for leaving. But way more enjoyable.

Taste the Difference: Southern Cross Flavor Profile

Southern Cross hops pack a punch that’ll make your taste buds dance. These little green cones bring a unique blend of flavors that’ll elevate your brew game.

Aromas: From Pine to Citrus Galaxy

Get ready for a sensory adventure. Southern Cross hops hit you with a burst of citrus that’ll make your nose tingle. You’ll catch whiffs of lemon zest and lime that’ll transport you to a tropical paradise. But wait, there’s more.

A hint of pine sneaks in, adding a touch of forest freshness to your beer.

The aroma doesn’t stop there. A spicy kick joins the party.

Giving your brew a little extra zing. It’s like a flavor fiesta in your glass.

Want to impress your friends? Toss these hops into your boil and watch the magic happen. The unique combo of citrus, pine, and spice will have everyone asking for your secret ingredient.

Remember, a little goes a long way. Southern Cross packs a bitter punch, so use it wisely. Your taste buds will thank you.

Pairing Southern Cross with Beer Styles

Southern Cross hops are a versatile Kiwi gem that’ll take your brews to the next level. Let’s dive into some killer beer styles that’ll make these hops shine brighter than the constellation they’re named after.

The Ale Trail: Pale Ale to IPA

Ready to hop on the ale train? Southern Cross is your first-class ticket. In American Pale Ales, these hops bring a zesty citrus punch that’ll make your taste buds dance. Toss them in late, and you’ll get a nose full of lime and passion fruit.

But why stop there? Crank it up to 11 with an IPA! Southern Cross can hold its own in the hop-heavy world of India Pale Ales. Its bold flavors stand tall among other hop varieties, adding a unique twist to your hop bill.

Pro tip: Try dry-hopping with Southern Cross.

You’ll get a beer that smells like you’ve stuffed a tropical fruit salad in your glass.

Lager Rendezvous: Crisp and Crafty

Think lagers are boring? Think again. Southern Cross is here to spice up your crisp, clean brews. Its subtle floral notes play nice with the delicate lager profile. Adding just enough intrigue without overpowering.

Try it in a Pilsner for a New Zealand twist on a classic. The hop’s lemon-lime zest will give your lager a refreshing kick that’ll have you reaching for another sip before you’ve even put your glass down.

Feeling adventurous? Experiment with a Southern Cross-hopped Bock.

The hop’s noble-like undertones complement the malty richness beautifully.

The Wild Cards: Experimental Brews

Time to get weird. Southern Cross is your wild card for experimental brews. Ever thought about a Southern Hemisphere Hefeweizen? Now’s your chance. The hop’s spicy notes play well with the banana and clove flavors of the yeast.

Or how about a Belgian Ale with a Kiwi twist? The fruity esters from Belgian yeast strains make fast friends with Southern Cross’s tropical vibes. It’s like a flavor party in your mouth, and everyone’s invited.

Don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path. Southern Cross is your ticket to unique, memorable brews that’ll have your friends begging for the recipe.

The Art of Brewing with Southern Cross

Ready to dive into the world of Southern Cross hops? These little green gems pack a punch of citrus and spice that’ll make your taste buds dance. Let’s explore how to get the most out of them in your brews.

Strike While the Kettle’s Hot: Brewing Techniques

Alright, hop heads, let’s talk brewing with Southern Cross. For bittering, toss in about 0.5-0.75 oz per 5 gallons at 60 minutes. Want more flavor? Add another 0.5 oz at 15 minutes. These babies shine in pale ales and IPAs.

Giving you that citrusy zing you’re after.

But don’t stop there! Try them in a lager for a crisp, spicy kick. Or go wild and use them in a saison – trust me, your taste buds will thank you. Remember, a little goes a long way with these potent pellets.

Dry-Hop Shenanigans: Maximizing Aroma

Now, let’s get crazy with dry-hopping. Southern Cross is like a citrus bomb waiting to explode in your fermenter. Add 1-2 oz per 5 gallons about 3-5 days before bottling. Your beer will smell like a lemon grove in paradise.

Want to really knock some socks off? Try a hop stand.

After flame-out, add 0.5-1 oz and let it steep for 20 minutes. It’s like steeping tea, but way more fun. And hey, why not experiment with a hopback? You’ll get an aroma that’ll make your neighbors jealous.

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	0.95	0.15	4.73	0.19
	Bittering	0.03	0.32	0.13	1.6	0.13
	Dry Hop	0.03	1.16	0.15	5.81	0.28
	First Wort	0.05	0.23	0.27	1.17	0.1
	Flavor	0.04	0.3	0.22	1.5	0.14
	Hop Stand	0.07	0.37	0.33	1.84	0.22
	Hopback	0.07	0.22	0.37	1.1	0.12
	Whirlpool	0.06	0.45	0.3	2.23	0.19
American IPA Total		0.03	1.16	0.13	5.81	0.19
American Pale Ale	Aroma	0.05	0.19	0.26	0.93	0.11
	Bittering	0.03	0.2	0.13	1	0.1
	Dry Hop	0.05	0.41	0.27	2.05	0.2
	Flavor	0.06	0.18	0.32	0.91	0.11
	Hopback	0.05	0.15	0.27	0.73	0.11
	Whirlpool	0.04	0.55	0.19	2.73	0.17
American Pale Ale Total		0.03	0.55	0.13	2.73	0.14
New England IPA	Aroma	0.03	0.53	0.14	2.67	0.21
	Bittering	0.03	0.16	0.15	0.81	0.08
	Dry Hop	0.08	0.6	0.42	3.01	0.27
	First Wort	0.03	0.13	0.14	0.65	0.08
	Hop Stand	0.12	0.27	0.58	1.34	0.19
	Hopback	0.08	0.16	0.42	0.8	0.12
	Whirlpool	0.01	0.6	0.03	3	0.19
New England IPA Total		0.01	0.6	0.03	3.01	0.19
Saison	Aroma	0.04	0.25	0.21	1.25	0.13
	Dry Hop	0.2	0.4	1	2	0.33
	Flavor	0.05	0.11	0.23	0.53	0.08
	Whirlpool	0.15	0.2	0.77	1	0.18
Saison Total		0.02	0.4	0.09	2	0.15
American Light Lager	Aroma	0.08	0.8	0.4	4.01	0.26
	Bittering	0.03	0.16	0.15	0.8	0.08
	Dry Hop	0.06	0.16	0.29	0.81	0.11
	Flavor	0.09	0.18	0.45	0.91	0.14
American Light Lager Total		0.03	0.8	0.15	4.01	0.15

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	0.23	7.09	4.55	141.75	1.38
	Bittering	0.19	2.4	3.85	47.93	0.99
	Dry Hop	0.22	8.71	4.44	174.12	2.13
	First Wort	0.41	1.75	8.17	34.95	0.79
	Flavor	0.32	2.24	6.45	44.83	1.04
	Hop Stand	0.5	2.75	10	55	1.63
	Hopback	0.56	1.65	11.11	33	0.92
	Whirlpool	0.45	3.34	9.09	66.72	1.43
American IPA Total		0.19	8.71	3.85	174.12	1.4
American Pale Ale	Aroma	0.38	1.39	7.69	27.83	0.8
	Bittering	0.2	1.5	4	30	0.78
	Dry Hop	0.4	3.06	8	61.27	1.46
	Flavor	0.48	1.36	9.53	27.23	0.79
	Hopback	0.41	1.09	8.21	21.74	0.83
	Whirlpool	0.29	4.08	5.83	81.7	1.24
American Pale Ale Total		0.2	4.08	4	81.7	1.05
New England IPA	Aroma	0.21	4	4.17	80	1.55
	Bittering	0.22	1.21	4.35	24.21	0.61
	Dry Hop	0.62	4.51	12.48	90.19	2.01
	First Wort	0.21	0.97	4.17	19.33	0.59
	Hop Stand	0.87	2	17.39	40	1.41
	Hopback	0.62	1.2	12.48	23.97	0.91
	Whirlpool	0.04	4.49	0.82	89.87	1.43
New England IPA Total		0.04	4.51	0.82	90.19	1.43
Saison	Aroma	0.32	1.87	6.43	37.45	0.94
	Dry Hop	1.5	3	29.96	60	2.5
	Flavor	0.34	0.8	6.81	16	0.57
	Whirlpool	1.15	1.5	23.04	29.96	1.34
Saison Total		0.13	3	2.56	60	1.09
American Light Lager	Aroma	0.6	6	12	120	1.92
	Bittering	0.22	1.2	4.35	24.04	0.62
	Dry Hop	0.43	1.22	8.7	24.35	0.83
	Flavor	0.68	1.36	13.62	27.23	1.02
American Light Lager Total		0.22	6	4.35	120	1.09

*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.

Just remember, with great hop power comes great responsibility.

Don’t go overboard, or you’ll end up with a bitter beer face.

Unique Brews and Blends

Ready to spice up your beer game? Southern Cross hops are about to take you on a wild ride through some seriously tasty brews and blends. Buckle up, hop-head.

Sibling Rivalry: Comparing Cousins from Down Under

Southern Cross might be the cool kid on the block, but its Kiwi cousins aren’t far behind. Nelson Sauvin brings a punchy wine-like character, while Motueka adds a zesty lime twist. Want to play matchmaker? Try a Southern Cross and Nelson Sauvin combo in your next pale ale.

It’s like a fruit salad in a glass, minus the sticky fingers.

Pro tip: Start with a 50/50 blend and adjust to your taste. You might just create the next big thing in the craft beer world. Who knows, maybe you’ll even name it “Down Under Thunder”?

The Cross-Mix Experiment: Blending with Other Hops

Time to get your mad scientist hat on. Southern Cross plays well with others, so don’t be shy about mixing it up. Pair it with Cascade for a citrusy kick that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance. Or try a dash of Sorachi Ace for a lemony twist.

The one that’ll have you saying “Sayonara” to boring beers.

For a real flavor adventure, mix Southern Cross with old-school Fuggle or Perle. It’s like a hop time machine in your brew kettle. Just remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Start small and taste often.

Your perfect blend is out there, waiting to be discovered.

When Southern Cross Plays Hide and Seek

First off, if you’re aiming for that zesty, lemony punch with a pine twist, Sorachi Ace is your new best friend. It’s like Southern Cross’s cool cousin who studied abroad – similar, but with its own unique flair.

Want to keep it in the family? Simcoe is another awesome option that’ll bring those tropical and piney notes to the party. It’s like Southern Cross went on a tropical vacation and came back with a tan!

For those of you feeling a bit more adventurous, why not give Southern Brewer a whirl?

It’s got that bitter kick that’ll make your beer stand up and say “Hello, world!”

Cultivating Curiosities: Growing Southern Cross Hops

Ready to grow your own Southern Cross hops? Get ready for a wild ride. These New Zealand beauties are like the rockstars of the hop world.

First things first, you’ll need some space. About 6 feet between plants should do the trick. Don’t want your hops getting too cozy with each other.

Water them lightly at first. Too much H2O and your hops might throw a tantrum (aka root rot). Nobody wants that drama.

Here’s a quick checklist for your hop-growing adventure:

Plenty of sunlight
Well-draining soil
A sturdy trellis (these climbers are ambitious!)
Patience (it takes 2-4 weeks for them to wake up)

Remember, Southern Cross hops are the cool kids from down under. They’ll bring a citrusy, spicy flair to your brews that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance.

Growing these hops is like raising tiny flavor factories. Each plant is working hard to produce those essential oils that’ll make your beer sing.

So grab your gardening gloves and get ready to cultivate some curiosities.

Your homebrew will thank you!

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