Idaho Gem is a unique hop variety from Gooding Farms in Wilder, Idaho. Though its genetics remain a mystery, this exceptional hop has quickly gained traction in the craft beer world for its versatility and striking flavor profile. Idaho Gem is well-suited for use as a single hop but also pairs brilliantly with other popular hops such as Citra, Mosaic, Sabro, and BRU-1.
This great hop is known for having sweet, fruit-forward aromatic oils. The aroma and flavor characteristics of Idaho Gem are marked by a bright and forward impression of fruit candy, reminiscent of Juicy Fruit or Jolly Ranchers, and supported by citric grapefruit notes. The hop also delivers hints of berry, bubblegum, citrus, floral, and mint undertones, adding complexity and depth to its flavor.
Given its exceptional qualities, Idaho Gem is well-suited for a wide range of beer styles. It is particularly effective in late kettle additions or dry hopping. At least five beer styles that benefit from including Idaho Gem are:
- Hazy IPAs.
- Fruit-forward pale ales.
- Juicy New England IPAs.
- Citrusy West Coast IPAs.
- Refreshing summer ales.
Usage: | Dual-Purpose |
Country of Origin: | United States |
Hop Growers Code: | IDG |
Where To Buy Idaho Gem Hops
Idaho Gem Flavor And Aroma
Idaho Gem is a dual-purpose hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
stone fruit
red berry
citrus
Idaho Gem Hop Oil Breakdown
Hop oils can vary from year to year and farm to farm but based on our research, here are the typical values we have seen reported. This information comes from various hop farms, The Hop Aroma Compendium, and For The Love Of Hops.
Alpha Acid % (AA) Alpha acids are what is isomerized when boiling to create bitterness in beer. | 11% – 14% |
Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 5% – 7% |
Alpha-Beta Ratio This ratio of alpha acids to beta acids determines how quickly bitterness fades during aging. Lower ratios are common for aromatic varieties. | 2:1 – 3:1 |
Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness. | 40% – 45% |
Total Oils (mL/100g) With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds. | 1.3mL – 2.3mL |
Myrcene green, resinous | Data Not Available |
Humulene woody, piney | Data Not Available |
Caryophyllene woody | Data Not Available |
Farnesene floral | Data Not Available |
Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | Data Not Available |
Hop Storage Index (HSI) The HSI indicates the percent of alpha and beta acids lost after 6 months of storage at room temperature (68°F or 20°C). | Retains 76% of its alpha acid after 6 months of storage at 20ºC (68ºF). |
Hop Storage Index (HSI) Rating | Good |
Idaho Gem Hop Substitutions
Replacing one hop for another is seldom straightforward but sometimes you don’t have the right hop or the right quantity of hops for the beer you want to make. For those situations, we have made a comprehensive list of hops to substitute on brew day.
These substitutions aren’t perfect as hop chemistry is pretty complex.
We wanted to make this list of substitutions with varietals that are easy to find when possible. For Idaho Gem, we recommend substituting with the following hops:
Beer Styles
For the most part, any hop could have a place in just about any beer style. Based on popular beers, historical usage, and our own preferences, we would recommend using Idaho Gem for IPA, New England IPA, Pale Ale, Wheat Beer, Golden Ale. That being said, experiment and see what works best for you.
References
https://www.hopslist.com/
https://www.ars.usda.gov/
https://www.brewersassociation.org/
https://www.barthhaasx.com/
https://www.yakimachief.com/
Hieronymus, Stan. For The Love of Hops. Brewers Publications, 2012
The Hop Aroma Compendium. 2012