Originally from Germany, Hallertau Mittelfruh hops have been used by brewers for more than a century. They are one of the original four noble hops and are renowned for their classic German hop character.
This hop variety has a delicate blend of floral and spicy characteristics. It is often paired with other noble hops to create unique beers across various beer styles.
Origin and History
The classic Hallertau Mittelfrueh hop is a landrace that dates back over 100 years. It is one of the original four “noble” hops and is known for its subtle floral and spicy aroma.
It is a very versatile hop, great for lagers and traditional pilsner styles. It produces a spicy-herbal aroma that compliments most brews.
However, this hop is susceptible to downy mildew and verticillium wilt. Both of these can kill the hop plant and destroy production.
In response to this threat, the Hop Research Institute in Hull was founded in 1926 with a mission to develop varieties resistant to these diseases. Since then, breeding programmes have been started in Slovenia, the Ukraine, Poland, China and the USA.
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
The emperor of the noble hop world, Hallertau Mittelfruh is revered for its unique and refined aroma. It is the hop of choice for brewing a range of styles from German ales to continental lagers.
A high alpha variety, this aromatic hop features a delicate floral bouquet, and hints of citrus, spice, and pine. The combination of its modest bittering value and the joyous harmony of flowers, fruit, earth and spice makes it a classic in both ale and lager brewing.
Liberty is a half-sister to Crystal, Mt. Hood, and Ultra, all of which share the Hallertau Mittelfruh parent. It is moderately resistant to hop downy mildew and has small size cones that can be difficult to harvest.
Brewing Uses
Known as one of the four noble hops, Hallertau Mittelfr?h is a classic German hop used by many traditional lager brewers. The herbal and floral character of this classic German hop make it a versatile addition to lager styles.
Craft brewers have also begun to embrace this classic German hop as well. Samuel Adams uses it in a number of its lagers.
This hop has a delicate aroma that combines floral and citrus tones with mild spiciness, making it perfect for lager styles. It can be used in late boil additions as well as dry hopping.
Pairing
Traditionally used in German-style lagers, Hallertau Mittelfr?h is a versatile hop that can be used in all beer styles. Its earthy, grassy flavor and subtle spiciness can add complexity to your beer recipes while also balancing other more intense flavors.
In fact, Harpoon Brewing Company uses this hop in a Blond Ale that flirts with spices from “A” to “T.”
Liberty is a triploid aroma-type cultivar released in 1983 by Corvallis. It was developed from a seedling selection between a colchicine induced tetraploid “Hallertau mf” (USDA 21397) and a diploid male downy mildew resistant aroma hop, USDA 64035M.
Availability and Cultivation
Located in the state of Bavaria in Germany, Hallertau is home to the world’s largest hop growing region. While much of the area’s acreage is devoted to bittering hops, the region also grows aroma hops like Hallertau Mittelfr?h, Hersbrucker Spat and Perle.
Originally one of the four Noble hops, Hallertau Mittelfr?h has been a staple of the German brewing culture for centuries. Its delicate blend of floral and spicy characteristics contribute a complex, subtle flavor profile to beer.
Historically, this trailblazing hop was nearly wiped out due to disease, but it has come back strongly thanks to new disease-resistant clones and improved farming practices. It is still the backbone of many Bavarian-style ales and lagers.