The craft beer scene is booming mostly because of more flavorful and fruitier brews. With some tweaking, anyone can make their brews even fruitier.
Combine
The US is home to some of the fruitiest hops in the world. Hops like Citra, Centennial, Cascade, Azacca, and Mosaic can provide you with the fruitiest of brews, but constant exposure can dull the taste of your patrons. Combining hops is an excellent way to open up your patrons’ palates, especially by using unfamiliar hops. Australia’s Galaxy makes a great pair with Citra. Galaxy is a purely fruity hop, and its passion fruit, peach, and pineapple tones go well with Citra’s lime, orange, and lychee.
Germany’s Mandarina Bavaria also blends well with fruity American hops. Its orange, lemon, and lime tones blend well with less citrusy hops like Mosaic, Idaho, and El Dorado. New Zealand’s Nelson Sauvin or Germany’s Hallertau Blanc are both rich in wine-like flavors and aromas that go well with almost any fruity hop. The cleaner and crisper wine notes give your brews a touch of grape to go along with other fruity or citrusy hops.
Accentuate
Making fruity flavors stand out is another way to make fruitier brews. Too many fruity flavors can make a brew chaotic, and sometimes a blank canvas can make rich tones stand out even more. Simcoe does the job perfectly as its earthier tones highlight the citrusy goodness of hops like Citra, Galaxy, or Centennial. It also provides a smooth and crisp bitterness that enhances citrusy tones. The duller noble hops also serve as a great backdrop for bolder and more flavorful American hops.
Spicy and Earthy notes are easily overwhelmed by citrusy hops, and the contrast of flavors makes citrusy and fruity tones explode in your mouth. One hop that brewers particularly enjoy is Polaris. The German hop exudes strong minty notes that accentuate the flavors and aromas of fruity and citrusy hops. The glacial mint aromas blend perfectly with citrusy hops, making extremely flavorful and aromatic brews.
Cheat
You can’t precisely control the flavors of your brews without a bit of cheating. Fruit additives can enhance your brews’ flavors or give you the specific fruit taste that you’re looking for. Mango purees are particularly popular as mango flavor is particularly rare in hops (Citra has very mild tones of mango).
Fruit additives have been used for centuries, dating back to 7,000 BC in China. Records of European brewers using additives go back to the 1930s, and modern brewers have adopted the process. Note that you can’t add any particular fruit into your brews to make it work. Fruit additives need to be free from contaminants, or they can alter or ruin the brewing process. Opt for additives that have gone through pasteurization and are contained in aseptic packaging.
Fruity brews started the craft beer boom that is taking over the world. Brew the fruitiest hops by experimenting with different combinations or cheat I little with some additives. Either way, your patrons will enjoy the fruitier and more flavorful brews that you will create.