Vic Secret hops are a high-alpha-content dual-use hop variety developed in Australia by Hop Products Australia in 2000 and released for commercial production in 2013. It shares a high-alpha-content Australian mother with its sister Topaz, and its father is a European variety from England’s Wye College hop-breeding program.
Vic Secret hops have a versatile flavor profile with a clean and bright tropical character with supporting notes of fresh herbs and pine needles, specifically pineapple, passionfruit, subtle herbs, spices, pine, and resin.
Vic Secret hops are recommended for use in various beer styles, including IPAs, Pale Ales, Porters, and Stouts, and are best used for aroma, specifically as a whirlpool and dry hop. Late kettle additions will impart earthy flavors without the fruit.
| Usage: | Dual-Purpose |
| Country of Origin: | Australia |
| Hop Growers Code: | VIS 00-207-013 |
Where To Buy Vic Secret Hops
Vic Secret Flavor And Aroma
Vic Secret is a dual-purpose hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
citrus
tropical
woody
Vic Secret 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. | 15.1% – 21.8% |
| Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 6.4% – 8.1% |
| 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. | 2.5 – 3.0 |
| Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness. | 51.0% – 56.0% |
| Total Oils (mL/100g) With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds. | 2.1mL – 2.8mL |
| Myrcene green, resinous | 31.0% – 46.0% |
| Humulene woody, piney | 9.4% – 12.2% |
| Caryophyllene woody | 9.8% – 12.2% |
| Farnesene floral | 0% – 1% |
| Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 17% – 51% |
| 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 |
Vic Secret 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 Vic Secret, 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 Vic Secret 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
