Citra Hop Pellets 11 lb

Citra is one of the most influential hop varieties of the modern craft beer era, renowned for its explosive tropical fruit and citrus aroma. Developed by the Hop Breeding Company and released commercially in 2007, this dual purpose hop has become a staple in IPAs and Pale Ales around the world. Its exceptionally high oil content makes Citra an outstanding choice for whirlpool and dry hop additions, where it produces an intensely juicy aroma with minimal grassy character.

Technical Specifications

• Manufacturer: Yakima Chief Hops
• Hop Type: Dual Purpose
• Origin: United States
• Alpha Acid: 11.0 - 15.0%
• Beta Acid: 3.5 - 4.5%
• Cohumulone: 20 - 24%

Flavor & Aroma Profile

Citra is celebrated for its vibrant notes of mango, passion fruit, grapefruit, lime, lychee, peach, and citrus zest, complemented by subtle hints of melon and gooseberry. While it delivers a clean bitterness when used early in the boil, Citra truly shines in whirlpool and dry hop additions, creating bold tropical fruit flavors and an intensely aromatic finish. Its expressive profile makes it an exceptional single hop variety while also blending effortlessly with other modern American and Southern Hemisphere hops.

Brewing Applications

Citra is a favorite for Hazy IPA, New England IPA, American IPA, West Coast IPA, Pale Ale, Session IPA, Double IPA, and American Wheat Ale. It pairs exceptionally well with Mosaic, Simcoe, Galaxy, Amarillo, Idaho 7,and Centennial, adding layers of citrus and tropical fruit to hop forward beers.

Recommended Hop Substitutes

If Citra® is unavailable, consider:

• Mosaic – Similar tropical fruit intensity with added berry complexity.
• Galaxy – Passion fruit, peach, and citrus-forward character.
• Azacca – Bright mango, pineapple, and citrus notes.
• El Dorado – Sweet tropical fruit with pear and candy-like characteristics.
• Amarillo – More orange-forward with subtle stone fruit notes.

Lineage & History

Citra was developed by the Hop Breeding Company (HBC) from a complex pedigree that includes Hallertau Mittelfrüh, Brewer's Gold, East Kent Golding, Bavarian landrace hops, and several USDA experimental breeding lines. The breeding program sought to create a hop with exceptionally intense aroma while maintaining strong agronomic performance. Since its release in 2007, Citra has become one of Yakima Chief Hops' flagship varieties and is widely regarded as one of the defining hops of modern craft brewing, setting the standard for juicy, fruit forward IPAs.