Summer Hops and Best Beer Styles: Hoppy Days Are Here Again!

Reading Time: around 6 min

Summer’s here, and it’s time to talk hops! If you’re a beer lover, you’ve probably heard of Summer hops. These little beauties are the secret weapon for many fantastic warm-weather brews. Summer hops bring a unique flavor profile to your beer.

Hints of melon, apricot and peach, followed by citrus and passion fruit.

A subtle, delicate aroma that won’t overpower your taste buds.

Want to know the best part? Summer hops are versatile!

You can toss them into various beer styles without fear of creating a bitter mess. They’re like the easygoing friend who gets along with everyone at the party. American Ales, Belgian Ales, IPAs, and Wheat beers all welcome Summer hops with open arms.

Feeling thirsty yet?

Imagine sipping on a crisp Witbier on a hot day, with Summer hops adding just the right touch of fruity goodness. Or picture yourself enjoying a refreshing American Wheat beer, where these hops bring out the best in the bready, biscuity notes.

Summer hops are here to make your beer-drinking adventures more exciting!

Key Takeaways

Summer hops offer a unique melon and stone fruit flavor and subtle aroma perfect for warm-weather beers
They’re versatile and work well in various beer styles like American Ales, Belgian Ales, and Wheat beers
Summer hops can be used generously without making your beer too bitter, ideal for dry hopping

Main Characteristics

Purpose: Aroma
Aromas: Melon, Apricot, Peach
Notes: Citrus, Passion fruit, Grassy
Alpha-acids: 5.5% – 6.5% [bitterness added through boiling]
Beta-acids: 4.8% – 6.1% [bitterness added through maturation]
Cohumulone: 20% – 25% of alpha-acids [bitterness profile: low = smooth, high = sharp]
Hops oil breakdown: 1.3 – 2.0 mL / 100g [responsible for flavors and aromas]
- Myrcene: 29% – 38% [resinous, citrus, fruity]
- Humulene: 28% – 50% [noble, woody, spicy]
- Caryophyllene: 8% – 11% [spicy, piney, herbal]
- Farnesene: 0% – 1% [fresh, green, floral]

Summer Lovin’ Brews: Top Styles for Summer Hops

Summer hops bring a zesty twist to your favorite brews. They’re perfect for crafting crisp, refreshing beers that’ll have you reaching for another sip. Let’s dive into the top styles that’ll make your taste buds dance this season.

Pale Ale: The Golden Standard

Pale ales and Summer hops? Name a more iconic duo – I’ll wait.

This hop variety shines in these golden beauties, adding a splash of sweet fruits and a hint of citrus. You’ll get notes of melon and apricot that’ll make your mouth water.

Want to impress your friends? Whip up a Summer hop pale ale. It’s lighter than an IPA but still packs a flavorful punch. The crisp bitterness balances perfectly with the fruity aroma. It’s like summer in a glass! (pun intended).

Pro tip: Serve it cold on a hot day. Your taste buds will thank you.

Kölsch and Its Crisp Class

Kölsch and Summer hops are a match made in beer heaven. This German-style ale is already known for its crisp, clean taste. Add Summer hops to the mix, and you’ve got yourself a real crowd-pleaser.

The delicate fruit notes of Summer hops complement Kölsch’s subtle maltiness. It’s like a refreshing breeze on a warm day. You’ll pick up hints of passion fruit and melon that’ll make your Kölsch sing.

Brew this combo, and you’ll be the talk of your next barbecue.

It’s perfect for sipping by the pool or pairing with light summer dishes.

Let’s Hefeweizen to the Future

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Summer hops bring a modern twist to the classic Hefeweizen. This German wheat beer is already a summer favorite, but add Summer hops and you’re in for a treat.

The hop’s subtle fruity notes play well with Hefeweizen’s traditional banana and clove flavors. You’ll get a hint of apricot that adds depth without overpowering.

It’s like a fruit salad in beer form – but way more fun.

Try dry-hopping your Hefeweizen with Summer hops. You’ll get an extra burst of aroma that’ll make your brew stand out. It’s a surefire way to beat the heat and impress your beer-loving buddies.

The Craft of Brewing with Summer Hops

Summer hops bring a unique twist to your brew. They’re versatile little nuggets that can jazz up your beer in ways you never imagined. Let’s dive into some crafty techniques to make the most of these sunny beauties.

The Art of Dry Hopping: Flavor Without the Bitterness

Ever wanted to pack a punch without the bite? Dry hopping with Summer hops is your ticket to Flavortown. Toss these babies in after fermentation, and watch the magic happen. You’ll get all that juicy goodness without turning your beer into a bitter fest.

Think melon, citrus and stone fruit, dancing on your tongue.

It’s like a flavor party in your mouth, and everyone’s invited.

Pro tip: start small and work your way up.

Too much of a good thing can turn your brew into a hop bomb!

What’s the Deal with Late Boil Additions?

Fancy a hop aroma that’ll make your nostrils do a happy dance? Late boil additions are your new best friend. Add Summer hops in the last 5-10 minutes of the boil, and you’re in for a treat.

This trick preserves those delicate hop oils that give your beer its oomph. You’ll get a softer bitterness and more of that Summer hop character. It’s like capturing sunshine in a bottle!

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	0.07	0.4	0.35	2	0.19
	Bittering	0.08	0.2	0.41	1	0.12
	Dry Hop	0.09	0.68	0.45	3.38	0.3
	Flavor	0.05	0.48	0.27	2.38	0.19
	Whirlpool	0.07	0.37	0.35	1.85	0.21
American IPA Total		0.05	0.68	0.27	3.38	0.24
American Pale Ale	Aroma	0.05	1.27	0.26	6.36	0.23
	Bittering	0.09	0.19	0.45	0.93	0.15
	Dry Hop	0.11	0.45	0.53	2.25	0.29
	Flavor	0.04	0.32	0.22	1.6	0.16
	Whirlpool	0.11	0.45	0.56	2.23	0.21
American Pale Ale Total		0.04	1.27	0.22	6.36	0.22
New England IPA	Aroma	0.07	0.46	0.35	2.31	0.19
	Dry Hop	0.06	0.55	0.29	2.73	0.25
	Flavor	0.11	0.18	0.53	0.91	0.15
	Whirlpool	0.09	0.35	0.45	1.76	0.19
New England IPA Total		0.06	0.55	0.29	2.73	0.21
Saison	Aroma	0.06	0.18	0.3	0.91	0.12
	Bittering	0.07	0.18	0.33	0.91	0.1
	Dry Hop	0.06	0.24	0.3	1.21	0.15
	Flavor	0.08	0.18	0.38	0.91	0.11
	Whirlpool	0.08	0.18	0.38	0.9	0.13
Saison Total		0.06	0.24	0.3	1.21	0.12
Blonde Ale	Aroma	0.03	0.26	0.15	1.32	0.14
	Bittering	0.03	0.26	0.16	1.32	0.15
	Dry Hop	0.07	0.73	0.33	3.64	0.28
	Flavor	0.06	0.25	0.32	1.25	0.14
	Whirlpool	0.2	0.36	1	1.82	0.27
Blonde Ale Total		0.03	0.73	0.15	3.64	0.18
American Wheat	Aroma	0.08	0.18	0.38	0.91	0.13
	Dry Hop	0.06	0.18	0.29	0.91	0.1
	First Wort	0.04	0.09	0.21	0.44	0.07
	Flavor	0.03	0.17	0.13	0.83	0.09
American Wheat Total		0.03	0.35	0.13	1.75	0.11

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	0.53	3	10.53	59.91	1.44
	Bittering	0.61	1.5	12.24	29.96	0.9
	Dry Hop	0.68	5.07	13.62	101.39	2.29
	Flavor	0.4	3.57	8	71.43	1.42
	Whirlpool	0.53	2.78	10.57	55.56	1.54
American IPA Total		0.4	5.07	8	101.39	1.78
American Pale Ale	Aroma	0.38	9.52	7.69	190.48	1.72
	Bittering	0.67	1.39	13.33	27.78	1.13
	Dry Hop	0.8	3.37	16	67.4	2.14
	Flavor	0.33	2.4	6.51	48	1.21
	Whirlpool	0.83	3.33	16.67	66.67	1.6
American Pale Ale Total		0.33	9.52	6.51	190.48	1.65
New England IPA	Aroma	0.53	3.46	10.53	69.13	1.42
	Dry Hop	0.43	4.08	8.7	81.7	1.84
	Flavor	0.79	1.36	15.79	27.23	1.08
	Whirlpool	0.68	2.63	13.62	52.63	1.43
New England IPA Total		0.43	4.08	8.7	81.7	1.56
Saison	Aroma	0.45	1.36	8.99	27.23	0.92
	Bittering	0.5	1.36	10	27.23	0.78
	Dry Hop	0.45	1.82	8.99	36.36	1.12
	Flavor	0.56	1.36	11.23	27.23	0.85
	Whirlpool	0.58	1.34	11.52	26.9	0.94
Saison Total		0.45	1.82	8.99	36.36	0.92
Blonde Ale	Aroma	0.22	1.97	4.35	39.42	1.03
	Bittering	0.25	1.97	4.9	39.42	1.11
	Dry Hop	0.5	5.45	10	108.93	2.11
	Flavor	0.48	1.87	9.52	37.45	1.03
	Whirlpool	1.5	2.72	29.96	54.47	2
Blonde Ale Total		0.22	5.45	4.35	108.93	1.38
American Wheat	Aroma	0.56	1.36	11.23	27.23	0.97
	Dry Hop	0.43	1.36	8.7	27.23	0.72
	First Wort	0.31	0.66	6.24	13.14	0.49
	Flavor	0.19	1.25	3.74	24.96	0.64
American Wheat Total		0.19	2.63	3.74	52.56	0.82

*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, timing is everything. Too early, and you’ll lose the good stuff. Too late, and… well nothing wrong with that. But find your sweet spot, and you’ll be brewing liquid gold in no time!

Summer hops, with their hints of apricot and melon, are the star of the show.

They’re like the cool kid at school – everyone wants to be their friend.

Want to try something new in your next brew? Give Summer hops a whirl. They’ll add a fruity twist to your pale ales and wheat beers that’ll have your friends begging for more. Just don’t tell them your secret – let them think you’re a brewing genius.

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