Loral hops, a mix between U.S. Glacier and U.S. Nugget, uniquely blend traditional and modern characteristics. This hop stands out with its floral and herbal notes, a nod to its noble European ancestry, Tardif de Bourgogne while showcasing hints of citrus and earthiness.
The aroma profile of Loral, dubbed as a “super noble hop,” combines pleasing floral and herbal scents with citrus and earthy undertones. This well-rounded hop also has a sweet fruity aroma that doesn’t overpower the delicate balance of flavors. Expect an approachable, balanced character rather than the in-your-face fruity notes of other U.S. varieties.
Loral hops are versatile and ideal for various beer styles. They fit perfectly in distinctive IPAs and pale ales. Still, its unique profile also makes it suitable for sessionable, lager-style beers, stouts, wheat beers, and amber ales.
| Usage: | Aroma |
| Country of Origin: | United States |
| Hop Growers Code: | LOR HBC 291 |
Where To Buy Loral Hops
A “super noble hop” with its wonderful floral and herbal notes followed by a backdrop of citrus and earthy character.
Loral Flavor And Aroma
Loral is an aroma hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
citrus, lemon
floral
herbal
Loral 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. | 10% – 17% |
| Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 1.5% – 6.5% |
| 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 – 11:1 |
| Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness. | 20% – 24% |
| Total Oils (mL/100g) With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds. | 1.5mL – 3.4mL |
| Myrcene green, resinous | 52% – 58% |
| Humulene woody, piney | 17% – 18% |
| Caryophyllene woody | 5% – 6% |
| Farnesene floral | 0% – 1% |
| Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 17% – 26% |
| 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). | Data Not Available |
| Hop Storage Index (HSI) Rating | Data Not Available |
Loral 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 Loral, 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 Loral 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
