New Zealand is well known for its unique hops with tropical fruit character. Hops like Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy and Moteuka have gained popularity in craft beer.
Another great example is the Hops Pacific Gem, a high alpha bittering hop from New Zealand that imparts a pleasing aroma of blackberries with woody flavor. This variety has found favor in IPAs and is commonly used as a first addition for bittering purposes.
Origin and History
Hops are female flower cones of the hop plant (Humulus lupulus). They contribute several desirable traits to beer, including balance of sweetness and bitterness, flavor, aroma and antibiotic properties.
Origin and History
A triploid alpha hop developed through New Zealand’s hop breeding program, Pacific Gem is a cross of Smoothcone, Californian Late Cluster and Fuggle released in 1987. It is a useful bittering hop with a high alpha acid range of 13% and above as well as a pleasing aromatic character.
Its signature aroma characteristics include spicy black pepper and berry fruit. It is also known to produce a delicate oak wood-like aroma and flavor when used in the late addition stage of the brewing process. This hop is a utility player in the brewhouse and works well in many styles of beer.
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
Pacific Gem is a high alpha hop with a pleasant aroma and useful bitterness level of 13% alpha. It is an excellent choice for many styles including Pale Ale, IPA & Lager.
Its bold citrus and spice aroma characteristics are often compared to Saaz. Some brewers also note delicate blackberry, floral or oak tones.
Released in 2007 from New Zealand’s hop breeding program, Rakau is a New World variety that provides a fruity character with big but well constructed bitterness. It performs best when used in combination of late additions and dry hopping.
This hop is a triploid of Fuggle, Cluster and Smooth Cone bred at the New Zealand Hort Research Institute. It is resistant to powdery mildew and has a low co-humulone.
Brewing Uses
Pacific Gem is a triploid high-alpha hop with ancestry including Smoothcone, California Late Cluster and Fuggle. Developed through the New Zealand Hop breeding program and released in 1987, it is a solid bittering hop with spicy black pepper and berry fruit aroma characters.
It is a dual-purpose hop that can be used in a wide variety of beer styles. It is most commonly used as a first hop addition in a brew but can also be utilized as a late addition.
When paired with a quality grain bill, Pacific Gem can be used to create a smooth, rich and oak-like taste. It is most often used in international lagers but can also be used to make excellent IPA’s.
Pairing of $ prompt with different beer styles
When it comes to pairing beer with food, there are a number of factors that can make a difference. These include beer style, color, taste and mouthfeel.
There are also a number of guidelines that can be used to help make the process easier. These include a beer that is dry, light in color and low in bitterness or hoppy.
The most important thing to remember when pairing beer and food is that it needs to be balanced. This is particularly true when it comes to the intensity of flavors, whether that be sweetness, bitterness, alcohol, level of roast or yeast-derived fruitiness, spiciness or other mouthfeel sensations.
Availability and Cultivation
Hops (Humulus lupulus) are dioecious plants that climb over the ground and produce cones that contain resins and essential oils. These aromatic compounds are a key component of the bittering and flavor properties of beer.
Released in 1987 by the New Zealand Horticultural Research Centre, Pacific Gem is a triploid high alpha variety that combines the ancestry of Smooth Cone, Californian Late Cluster and Fuggle. It is usually used as a first hop addition for bittering purposes and is known for showcasing wood and blackberry flavors.
Typical alpha acid levels are 12-14%. It has a high cohumulone content which makes it a difficult hop to use for bittering as it can impart a harsh bitterness to the beer. However, its oil content allows it to work well as a later addition, producing flavors and aromas of lemon citrus and pepper.