Ekuanot / Equinox Hops are a new hop varietal released in 2014 that has taken the beer world by storm. Their ridiculously high oil content (2.5-4 ml/100g) and desirable aromatics have lead breweries of all sizes to flock to them.
It is a dual purpose hop that delivers complex aromas and flavors of citrus, fruit, and herbs. The combination of these flavor components make it a highly sought after hop in many beer styles including IPAs and Pale Ales.
Origin and History
Brewing Ekuanot / Equinox Hops is a great way to bring a unique flavor and aroma to your next beer recipe. These American hops are popular in the craft brewing industry and are used in many styles of beer such as American Pale Ale, American IPA, Pilsner, Specialty IPA, and more.
HBC 366 (Formerly Equinox) was developed by Hop Breeding Company and is a unique, diversified, and pronounced aroma hop variety with extremely high oil content and a tight cone structure.
This hop variety bursts out of the ground in early Spring and matures to a deep green color over the course of the summer. Its pronounced aroma profile includes citrus, tropical fruit, floral and herbal characteristics.
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
Ekuanot / Equinox Hops, previously known as HBC 366 and renamed to Ekuanot after a trademark dispute, have exploded in popularity in recent years. Breweries of all sizes and styles are clamoring for this unique, highly sought after variety with it’s incredibly high oil content.
These aroma hops are known for their complex array of fruity aromatics such as lemon, lime, pithy orange, tropical fruit, berry, papaya and occasionally apple along with more herbal notes of sage or eucalyptus.
They are an excellent choice for a variety of late boil additions and dry hopping. They lend a sweet-mid palate flavor with additional hints of herbal notes, woody cedar and subtle fresh cut hay.
Brewing Uses
Ekuanot / Equinox Hops are known for bringing a complex array of aromas and flavors to the brew pot. Lemon, lime, pithy orange, tropical fruit, berry, papaya and sometimes floral notes are all present in this wonderful variety.
This dual purpose New Zealand variety is used in Pale Ale, IPA’s, DIPA’s and other styles of beer. It is a great all round hop with low cohumulones and good oil content.
A funky chile pepper character and complex flavours make this variety ideal for single hop beers, bittering additions and late or dry hop additions. It also compliments the fruity aromatics of other hop varieties. It is especially effective when used in tandem with Cascade and Mosaic hops.
Pairing of $ prompt with different beer styles
Ekuanot / Equinox Hops are a multifaceted finishing hop that deliver a complex array of aromas. Specific descriptors include melon, berry, orange peel, lime, papaya, pine and fresh peppers.
The aforementioned pronounced and quite enticing aroma characteristics are complemented by a high oil content which balances out the multiple flavors. This makes for a surprisingly versatile finisher with many commercial brews utilizing the elusive Ekuanot hop to great success.
For the true connoisseur, it is well worth trying out a number of commercial Ekuanot / Equinox beer samples to find out if this highly rated hop variety is right for your next brew. A little research on the web is all it takes to narrow down your selection and find the one that is going to make your next IPA shine.
Availability and Cultivation
Ekuanot / Equinox Hops (formerly HBC 366) have become increasingly popular over the last few years. The high oil content and desirable aromatics have lead breweries of all sizes to flock to this variety.
It matures moderately late in the season and is a very strong aroma variety, packing a lot of citrus punch along with often background notes of apple, sage or eucalyptus.
The variety is also very effective when used in tandem with other fruity and floral hop varieties. It has been used in many single-hop beers and is a great addition to any brewer’s arsenal.