Polaris hops were released in 2012 by the Hop Research Institute in Hüll, Germany, to respond to the growing demand for distinct flavor profiles in the craft beer industry. This dual-purpose hop is a cross between 94/075/758 and 97/060/720, and it has high alpha acids and an intense aroma profile.
The flavor and aroma profile of Polaris hops include intense mint, pineapple, menthol, herbal notes, and tropical elements. It also features a resinous profile with powerful wintergreen and eucalyptus components.
Polaris hops work well in IPAs, Brettanomyces fermentations, Belgian styles, and any beer style requiring bold taste and differentiating flavors.
Usage: | Dual-Purpose |
Country of Origin: | Germany |
Hop Growers Code: | PLA 2000/109/728 |
Where To Buy Polaris Hops
Polaris Flavor And Aroma
Polaris is a dual-purpose hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
herbal
spice
tropical
Polaris 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. | 18% – 23% |
Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 4.5% – 6% |
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. | 3:1 – 5:1 |
Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness. | 22% – 28% |
Total Oils (mL/100g) With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds. | 4.0mL – 5.0mL |
Myrcene green, resinous | 50% |
Humulene woody, piney | 20% – 35% |
Caryophyllene woody | 8% – 13% |
Farnesene floral | 1% |
Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 0% – 23% |
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 |
Polaris 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 Polaris, 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 Polaris 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