Motueka hops are a variety of hops developed by the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research. They are triploid hops, meaning they were bred from three distinct parent varieties, and they are one of the most-grown hops in New Zealand.
Motueka hops offer moderate alpha acids (6-8%) and have a unique flavor and aroma of fresh tropical limes that can be incorporated into many styles, including single-hopped IPAs, Belgian styles like Saisons and Wits, and thirst-quenching Pilsners and Lagers. They are primarily an aroma hop but are also used as a dual-purpose hop. Motueka hops have a sweet and resinous flavor with zingy citrus, fresh herbal notes, and hints of dried orchard fruit around the edges.
| Usage: | Dual-Purpose |
| Country of Origin: | New Zealand |
| Hop Growers Code: | 87.14-20 |
Where To Buy Motueka Hops
Motueka Flavor And Aroma
Motueka is a dual-purpose hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
lemon zest, fresh lime, mojito
tropical fruit
floral
Motueka 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. | 6.5% – 8.5% |
| Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 5% – 5.5% |
| 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. | 1:1 – 2:1 |
| Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness. | 29% |
| Total Oils (mL/100g) With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds. | 0.8mL |
| Myrcene green, resinous | 47.7% |
| Humulene woody, piney | 3.6% |
| Caryophyllene woody | 2% |
| Farnesene floral | 12.2% |
| Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 32% – 37% |
| 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 65% alpha acid after 6 months storage at 20ºC (68ºF). |
| Hop Storage Index (HSI) Rating | Fair |
Motueka 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 Motueka, 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 Motueka 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
