Nectaron® Hop Pellets 1 lb

Nectaron is a premium New Zealand dual purpose hop celebrated for its intensely juicy tropical fruit character and exceptional aroma intensity. Developed by New Zealand Plant & Food Research and released commercially in 2020 after nearly two decades of evaluation, Nectaron has quickly become one of the most sought after Southern Hemisphere hop varieties. Its high oil content and expressive flavor profile make it a standout choice for whirlpool and dry hopping, where it delivers saturated fruit aromas that define modern hop forward beers.

Technical Specifications

• Manufacturer: Yakima Chief Hops
• Hop Type: Dual Purpose
• Origin: New Zealand
• Alpha Acid: 10.5 - 11.5%
• Beta Acid: 3.5 - 4.5%
• Cohumulone: 26 - 28%

Flavor & Aroma Profile

Nectaron is renowned for its bold aromas of passion fruit, peach, pineapple, grapefruit, and ripe tropical fruit, complemented by notes of citrus zest, stone fruit, and subtle floral sweetness. Whirlpool and dry hop additions maximize its rich fruit expression, creating a juicy, layered aroma with a smooth, clean finish. Its balanced bitterness allows the vibrant fruit character to remain the focal point, making Nectaron equally effective as a feature hop or in complex hop blends.

Brewing Applications

Nectaron excels in Hazy IPA, New England IPA, American IPA, Pale Ale, Session IPA, Double IPA, and New Zealand Pilsner. It pairs exceptionally well with Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, Citra, and Mosaic, producing layered aromas of tropical fruit, citrus, white grape, peach, and passion fruit. It also complements Krush and Galaxy for brewers seeking maximum fruit intensity.

Recommended Hop Substitutes

If Nectaron is unavailable, consider:

• Galaxy – Intense passion fruit, peach, and citrus character.
• Krush – Juicy tropical fruit, peach, and berry complexity.
• Nelson Sauvin – White grape and tropical fruit with distinctive New Zealand character.
• El Dorado – Sweet tropical fruit with pear and candy like notes.
• Citra – Bright citrus and tropical fruit with exceptional aromatic intensity.

Lineage & History

Nectaron was developed by New Zealand Plant & Food Research through an extensive hop breeding program focused on producing world-class aroma varieties for modern craft brewing. It originated from a cross involving Waimea and carefully selected New Zealand breeding lines, combining excellent agronomic performance with an exceptionally expressive tropical fruit profile. After approximately 17 years of research and commercial evaluation, Nectaron was officially released in 2020 and quickly gained international recognition among craft brewers. Today, it is one of Yakima Chief Hops' premier New Zealand varieties, prized for its remarkable passion fruit, peach, and pineapple character that has made it a staple in contemporary hop forward beer styles.