Discover the luscious, tropical flavors and aromas of Galaxy® and how it put the Australian hop-growing region on the map.

This hop revolutionized the Australian hop industry, it’s one of the most well-known southern hemisphere varieties, and it answered the call when brewers worldwide wanted juicy, tropical hops for their Hazy IPAs. We’re talking, of course, about Galaxy®.

It all started when Hop Products Australia (HPA) cross-pollinated a high-alpha variety with Perle. Although they couldn’t have known it at the time, they were cultivating one of the first hop varieties with BIG tropical-forward flavors and aromas. Plus, while it’s often used as a high-impact hop, today we know that its versatile flavors create a bevy of opportunities.

HPA Head of Sales and Marketing Owen Johnston explained to Ollie that it could work very well in lighter beer styles. “There are opportunities for Galaxy® to express its flavor profile in its delicate form, not in its preponderance. There’s talk of a resurgence of craft lager and always the moderation of alcohol levels in different settings. I think Galaxy® has an exceptional outlook, even in lighter alcohol settings.”

Whether you’re leaning into its vibrant fruit flavors for your next bold IPA, or getting creative with the next trending non-alcoholic beverage, this is a hop variety you’ll enjoy brewing with for years to come. Discover the lush, fruity flavors and aromas that keep people thirsty for Galaxy®.

Galaxy® Flavor & Aroma

According to HPA, Galaxy® contains somewhere between 15.9 – 19.8% alpha acids. That’s considered high, but Owen Johnston doesn’t recommend it as a kettle hop charge, saying it should instead be used post-boil in the whirlpool or later. Why? That beautiful flavor and aroma. “It does make an astounding impact and [should] be used later in the process, especially in the cold side.” He explains that even in a beer with a mixture of hops, Galaxy® will “poke its head up in the flavor profile.” 

It truly does have an intense, one-of-a-kind flavor. Think tropical, berry, and citrus. Specifically, Galaxy® has bold lush flavors of musky passionfruit and citrusy key lime. It’s punchy and luscious, tangy and citrus, and all it takes is that first sip of a Galaxy®-forward brew for you to understand why it’s easily the most recognizable Australian hops.

Larry Sidor, founder of Crux Fermentation Project in Bend, OR, experimented with it early in development and immediately noted its potential. In an interview with Hop Culture, he said, “They filled a void that didn’t exist. When I got a hold of Galaxy®, it was the first time a whole lot of tropical fruit, passionfruit, really came through.”

Before Galaxy®, It Was J78

It’s not a stretch to say that the Australian hop industry wouldn’t be what it is today without Galaxy®. Considering it’s only been commercialized since 2009, this is pretty impressive. Before it became the pride of Aussie hop growers, however, it went through quite a journey.

Hops aren’t indigenous to Australia, and they didn’t arrive until 1803. It took decades of industrialization and modernization for the industry to stabilize, and by the twentieth century, moderate producers were primarily growing hops like Pride of Ringwood purely for bittering purposes. Australia didn’t really start making waves in the world of brewing until Galaxy® hit the scene.

In 1994, HPA cross-pollinated a high-alpha variety with Perle. From 197 seeds, 67 were deployed in the field, and 46 of those were female. Just one ended up being the mother of Galaxy®, and at the time it was called J78. Johnston said, “She’s really famous. She’s really important. J78 was critical in a number of successful commercializations of hops, the most famous of which is Galaxy®.”

By 1997, Galaxy® was the front runner of the HPA breeding program and it went into the propagation phase in 2000. During the years of cultivation efforts, they sent samples to breweries for feedback. Saying that it received positive reviews would be an understatement. It officially hit the commercial market in 2009, and the timing was positively perfect.

At the same time that this hop became commercially available, the craft beer industry was loving varieties like Cascade, Citra®, and Centennial for American and West Coast IPAs. However, just a few years later, brewers were flexing their skills making juicy Hazy IPAs, which called for brighter, fruitier hops. Galaxy® fit the bill and then some.

Galaxy® Beyond Beer

The recent alternative beverage boom is still going strong, and it’s not likely to slow down any time soon. We’re talking about everything from NA beers and kombuchas to cannabis beverages and better-for-you seltzers. While Galaxy® is a hit in Hazy IPAs, its unique flavors mean it can easily bridge flavor gaps and appeal to a wide variety of consumers.

Those punchy tropical notes could make an exotic addition to ready to drink cocktails or mocktails, while the distinct notes of key lime could bring a tart, vibrancy to hop water. Galaxy®’s versatile flavors and aromas are particularly applicable in low-ABV and non-alcoholic beers.

Plus, with the ability to “tweak” the flavor profile of Galaxy®, brewers can create their own customized hop extract with the specific flavors they’re craving. Want to brew a Galaxy®-forward IPA with more resinous notes to balance out the vibrant tropicals? Ready to play mad scientist and add an entirely new dynamic element to this beloved hop profile? With customized hop extracts, this is a reality.

Brew with the True Flavor and Aroma of Galaxy®

We don’t know about you, but we’re suddenly craving a Hazy IPA with tropical notes of passionfruit. Maybe a thirst-quenching hop water with the distinctly bitter citrus of key limes? 

Whatever the case, we’re thirsty for a beverage that honors the classic flavors and aromas of Galaxy®. And your customers are probably craving it too. That’s why we’ve made it easier than ever to harness the authentic characteristics of this beloved hop. 

Our Omni Hop Profiles are derived from both hop and botanical sources to create a true living record. That means it can be recreated forever thanks to our analytical mapping capabilities and botanical formulation expertise. Want profiles derived solely from hops? Our Quantum Series completely reflects the hops that go into the process in a way that no other hop extractions do.

Contact us today and get started brewing with the truest expression of Galaxy®.