Topaz hops are an Australian variety of hops originally bred as a high alpha-acid bittering hop in the mid-1980s. However, in the 2000s, brewers started experimenting with late hop additions and Topaz’s dry hopping, revealing its potential as a versatile dual-use hop.
Topaz hops offer resinous, grassy bitterness when added in early additions, sweet and tart lychee stone fruit flavors, and a hint of tropical fruit when added late in larger doses. Dry hopping with Topaz hops can also infuse an extra layer of unique clove spice and fruity character, which works well in higher ABV beer styles.
Topaz hops are known to be a great partner to other Australian hops, especially Galaxy and Vic Secret, and are recommended for use in Amber Ale, APA, IPA, and Session Ale beer styles.
| Usage: | Dual-Purpose |
| Country of Origin: | Australia |
| Hop Growers Code: | TOP TC-85-70 |
Where To Buy Topaz Hops
Topaz Flavor And Aroma
Topaz is a dual-purpose hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
woody
berry, currant
tropical
Topaz 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. | 13.7% – 17.7% |
| Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 6.4% – 7.9% |
| 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. | 48% – 51% |
| Total Oils (mL/100g) With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds. | 1.7mL – 2.2mL |
| Myrcene green, resinous | 34% – 56% |
| Humulene woody, piney | 8% – 13% |
| Caryophyllene woody | 7% – 13% |
| Farnesene floral | 1% |
| Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 14% – 68% |
| 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 |
Topaz 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 Topaz, 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 Topaz 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
