Southern Passion is a unique hop variety with origins in South Africa, resulting from a combination of European hop varieties – Czech Saaz and German Hallertauer. This distinct lineage provides a complex and diverse flavor and aroma profile, making it highly sought after by brewers.
The flavor and aroma profile of Southern Passion is characterized by an array of tropical fruit flavors, such as passion fruit, guava, and coconut, accompanied by citrus notes and red berries. Its sunny floral fragrance adds depth and complexity, setting it apart from other hop varieties.
Southern Passion is well-suited for hop-forward American and Belgian beer styles, such as pale ales, IPAs, and saisons, where its tropical and citrus flavors can shine through and create a refreshing, balanced brew.
| Usage: | Aroma |
| Country of Origin: | South Africa |
| Hop Growers Code: | SPN |
Where To Buy Southern Passion Hops
Southern Passion Flavor And Aroma
Southern Passion is an aroma hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
citrus
berry, currant
tropical
Southern Passion 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. | 5% – 12% |
| Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 4% – 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. | 1:1 – 3:1 |
| Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness. | 16.6% – 20.2% |
| Total Oils (mL/100g) With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds. | 0.7mL – 1.3mL |
| Myrcene green, resinous | 20% – 35% |
| Humulene woody, piney | 17% – 35% |
| Caryophyllene woody | 8% – 13% |
| Farnesene floral | 1% – 3% |
| Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 0% – 57% |
| 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 |
Southern Passion 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 Southern Passion, 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 Southern Passion 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
