Known for distinct fruity flavors and lush aromatics, southern hemisphere hops are taking the craft brewing world by storm.

Southern hemisphere growing regions have started turning heads with their juicy fruity flavors and bold aromas. From Australia and New Zealand to South Africa, these countries are cultivating hops with an entirely different flavor profile compared to those grown in the U.S. or in Europe. 

Prior to the pandemic, the State of Hops report even said, “While southern hemispheric hops are still but a tiny piece of the global hops trade, their influence is outsized and it would be reasonable to expect that it will grow even more so in the coming years as new hop varieties come online.” That prediction was correct, and these hops are hotter than ever.

Read on and learn more about these unique growing regions and why brewers can’t get enough of southern hemisphere hop flavors and aromas.

Why Are New Zealand Hops SO Good?

New Zealand’s environment and growing practices result in hops with a terroir that’s distinct from anywhere else in the world. Sure, you can find varieties like Cascade and Chinook grown in NZ, but they won’t have the typical flavor and aroma you might be expecting. Doug Donelan, CEO of New Zealand Hops Ltd., explained to PUNCH, “The Cascade we grow in New Zealand has become so distinctly different that we renamed it ‘Taiheke’ so that people who are buying it aren’t expecting to get Cascade, because they’re not.”

In addition to its idyllic climate, New Zealand farmers also take a much more natural approach to growing hops. In a podcast interview with All About Beer, Brent McGlashen of Mac Hops explained that while New Zealand hops aren’t necessarily required to be organically grown, they’re grown in a very organic way. Very minimal sprays are used, sprays never go up into the hop canopy, and sometimes sheep are even used for weed control.

From Nectaron and Motueka to Nelson Sauvin, hops from this area are prized for their juicy tropical fruit flavors with delicate florals and bright citrus. With that in mind, it’s easy to understand why IPA-loving craft brewers are so captivated by these varieties.

New Zealand hops weren’t always so vibrant and lush, though, and they’ve undergone quite a transformation since their humble beginnings. Believe it or not, hops aren’t even native to the island country.

Hops arrived in the mid-19th century when English and German settlers came to the Nelson region. When WW1 restricted imports, farmers opted to grow the most economic varieties which led to a boom in Cali Cluster cultivation. Unfortunately, this variety was very susceptible to black root rot.

While this nearly destroyed the New Zealand hop industry, it led to careful breeding efforts that produced varieties resistant to such problems. Today, as a result of these efforts and its unique environment, the New Zealand hop industry is relatively free of hop diseases like powdery mildew and common pests that impact the northern hemisphere (the one pest exception being the two-spotted mite).

From seedless hops with high alpha-acid levels and even the release of the world's first commercial triploid hops in 1972, brewers owe much to New Zealand. However, New Zealand hops account for a very small percentage of the global hop market today. So, while these varieties are wildly popular, getting your hands on them can be tricky.

What Makes Australian Hop Varieties So Unique?

Modern Australian hop varieties are all about high-potency flavors and aromas. We’re talking about the candy-like zest of Eclipse®, the musky passionfruit of Vic Secret™, and, of course, the variety that put Australia on the hop map, Galaxy®. 

Similar to New Zealand, 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, Hop Products Australia (HPA) cross-pollinated a high-alpha variety with Perle. During fifteen years of cultivation efforts, they sent samples to breweries for feedback. Saying that it received positive reviews would be an understatement. 

HPA Head of Sales and Marketing Owen Johnston told Hop Culture that the impact was immediate. “You put in a little bit; you got a lot out. There was a high preference for this peachy, tropical thing Galaxy brought.” It officially hit the commercial market in 2009, and the timing was nothing short of serendipitous. 

The craft beer industry enjoyed varieties like Citra® and Cascade for West Coast IPAs, but as the craving for Hazy IPAs set in, brewers wanted something more tropical, juicier, and with brighter citrus. Galaxy® was the perfect solution and it revolutionized Australia as a hop-growing region. 

While Galaxy® is Australia’s hop darling, other varieties are quickly making a name for themselves. Johnston explained that he enjoys using Vic Secret in big, bold West Coast IPAs, “where you’ve got some hop sweetness, and the pineapple lead descriptor on Vic is kind of this excellent way in which to layer in some complexity.” 

We’re particularly excited to see how brewers utilize Eclipse®. Craft brewing has already fallen in love with its distinct sweet mandarin flavor, and the HPAs 2023 Crop Report showed a 70% harvest increase compared to the previous year. This is an impact hop that brewers and consumers obviously can’t seem to get enough of.

Brew Southern Hemisphere Hop Flavors with Quantum

This is just the beginning. Southern hemisphere hop regions are still growing and you should keep your eye out for new varietals coming out of Brazil and South Africa. We’re thirsty just thinking about it.

Southern Hemisphere hops may be tricky to get your hands on, but with the Quantum Series you can easily brew with the flavors and aromas of these mouthwatering varietals. For that mojito-like hit of lime from Motueka®, brew with MKA Quantum. Do your customers crave the musky tropical fruit of Galaxy®? GXY Quantum will infuse your brews with that varietal-specific flavor of passionfruit and key lime.

Switching to Quantum means less waste, lower costs, no special handling, and it can be added right into your existing workflow with no modifications. Best of all? Compared to other hop extracts and even pellets, Quantum simply tastes better.