Sabro hops are a variety of aroma hops developed by the Hop Breeding Company and released in 2018. It is a descendant of the subspecies Humulus lupulus var. neomexicanus, indigenous to New Mexico mountains and genetically distinct from all its European cousins.
Sabro is notable for its complexity of fruity and citrus flavors, including distinct tangerine, coconut, tropical fruit, and stone fruit aromas, with hints of cedar, mint, and cream. It has good alpha acid numbers and extremely high oil content, making it a popular choice among brewers. Sabro’s robust brewing performance consistently translates its distinct flavor to beer, making it an intensely expressive hop.
| Usage: | Aroma |
| Country of Origin: | United States |
| Hop Growers Code: | SAB HBC-438 |
Where To Buy Sabro Hops
Sabro Flavor And Aroma
Sabro is an aroma hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
citrus
tropical
herbal
Sabro 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. | 12% – 17% |
| Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 4.0% – 7.0% |
| 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 – 4:1 |
| 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. | 1.8mL – 3.5mL |
| Myrcene green, resinous | 50% – 68% |
| Humulene woody, piney | 7% – 14% |
| Caryophyllene woody | 7% – 11% |
| Farnesene floral | 0% – 1% |
| Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 6% – 36% |
| 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 |
Sabro 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 Sabro, 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 Sabro 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
