Grapefruit Beer: Hops-Infused Refreshment Or Not?

Grapefruit beers are a popular choice, especially in the summer. While some breweries add grapefruit juice, rinds, or puree to their brews, others rely solely on hops to impart that distinctive grapefruit flavor. The most common hops used in grapefruit beer are Centennial, Amarillo, and Cascade, but there are many other options. For example, Columbus hops are known for their strong grapefruit flavor and aroma, while Simcoe hops, often used in grapefruit clones, contribute to a citrus-forward aroma and flavor. Other hops with grapefruit notes include Ahtanum, Apollo, Astra, Belma, Canadian Redvine, Citra, Comet, Ella, Falconer's Flight, Galena, HBC472, Idaho 7, Junga, Marynka, Melba, Moutere, Nectaron, NZH-107, Olicana, Pioneer, Riwaka, Shaddock, Sládek, Strata, Styrian Dragon, Summit, Super Galena, Tahoma, and Zythos.

Hops with grapefruit flavour

Grapefruit-flavoured beers have gained a lot of popularity, with some brewers adding actual grapefruit or puree to a beer to make it incredibly juicy and unmistakably grapefruit in flavour. However, hops also play a huge role in achieving that grapefruit flavour.

The most common hops used in grapefruit beer are Centennial, Amarillo, and Cascade. A combination of these three will give you an excellent grapefruit flavour. However, there are many other hops that help promote a grapefruit flavour in beer.

• Citra
• Chinook
• Columbus
• Simcoe
• Apollo
• Ahtanum
• Astra
• Belma
• Canadian Redvine
• Comet
• East Kent Golding
• Ella
• Endeavour
• Falconer’s Flight
• Galena
• HBC472/Talus
• Idaho 7
• Junga
• Marynka
• Melba
• Moutere
• Nectaron
• NZH-107
• Olicana
• Pioneer
• Riwaka
• Shaddock
• Sládek
• Strata
• Styrian Dragon
• Summit
• Super Galena
• Tahoma
• Zythos

While some hops are known for their grapefruit flavour, it is important to remember that the perception of flavours is subjective and can vary from person to person. Additionally, the combination of hops and the brewing process can also influence the final grapefruit flavour of the beer.

Hops with grapefruit aroma

Grapefruit-flavoured hops are a popular choice for brewers, with 47 hops classified as having grapefruit aroma and/or flavour characteristics. The most popular secondary descriptors of this subset of hops are grapefruit, citrus, floral, tropical fruit and pine.

Citra hops

Citra hops are known for their strong, yet smooth, floral and citrus aroma and flavour. Specific aroma descriptors include grapefruit, citrus, peach, melon, lime, gooseberry, passion fruit and lychee. These tropical fruit flavours have made Citra the most popular hop for craft brewers.

Cascade hops

Cascade hops are defined by their citrus, and often more specifically grapefruit, flavour. This hop accounts for around 10% of the US's harvest of hops. Cascade also has a medium-intense floral and spice citrus character.

Chinook hops

Chinook hops can be slightly spicy and have a smoky earthiness. They have an impressive pine and resin character, with distinct spice and grapefruit.

Amarillo hops

Amarillo hops impart a distinct flowery, spicy, tropical, citrus-like flavour and aroma in beer. The citrus has qualities of orange and lemon, but with much stronger grapefruit notes.

Other hops with grapefruit aroma

Other hops with grapefruit aroma include:

• Apollo
• Astra
• Azacca
• Belma
• Brooklyn/Moutere
• Canadian Redvine
• Comet
• East Kent Golding
• Ella
• Endeavour
• Falconer's Flight
• Galena
• HBC472/Talus
• Idaho 7
• Junga
• Marynka
• McKenzie
• Melba
• Mosaic
• Nectaron
• NZH-107
• Olicana
• Pioneer
• Riwaka
• Shaddock
• Simcoe
• Sládek
• Styrian Dragon
• Summit
• Super Galena
• Tahoma
• Zythos

Brewing grapefruit beer

Step 1: Prepare the Grapefruit

Wash and scrub 3-4 grapefruits per 5 gallons of beer. Use a potato/vegetable peeler to peel the grapefruits, ensuring you take wide pieces of the skin without going too deep into the white, pithy part, as it tends to have a tart bitterness. You can also zest the grapefruit skin using a lemon zester.

Step 2: Soak the Grapefruit Peels

Place the grapefruit peels and zest in a container and cover them with vodka. For a 10-gallon batch, use about 6-8 ounces of vodka. Secure the lid on the container and shake it to mix the zest and thick peels. Store the container in the fridge for 12-24 hours to allow the grapefruit peels to soak in the vodka.

Step 3: Add the Grapefruit to the Beer

After the peels have soaked, it's time to add them to your beer. For a 5-gallon batch, use 3 grapefruits. You can add the grapefruit to the secondary fermentation. If you're using a fermenter with a lid, simply open the lid, add the peels and vodka, and secure the lid back in place. You can also add the grapefruit peels to the end of the boil, especially if you're making a white ale.

Step 4: Remove the Grapefruit Solids

After adding the grapefruit, you may need to remove the solids to prevent them from getting sucked into the dip tube during racking. You can use a muslin bag to contain the peels and make it easier to remove them before kegging. Leave the grapefruit in the beer for 24-36 hours, and then rack the beer to your keg and carbonate as usual.

Step 5: Adjust and Experiment

You can adjust the amount of grapefruit used to suit your taste preferences. If you want a more robust grapefruit flavor, you can add more grapefruit or even use grapefruit juice. However, be cautious when adding grapefruit juice, as it can affect the carbonation levels due to the additional sugar. Additionally, you can experiment with different types of hops and other ingredients to create unique grapefruit beer flavors.

It's important to note that grapefruit contains chemicals that can interfere with certain medications. Therefore, it's always a good idea to be cautious and inform others if your beer contains grapefruit.

Grapefruit Sculpin IPA

The beer pours a deep golden orange colour with a moderate white head. The aroma is dominated by bitter grapefruit and lemon zest, while the taste is a delightful combination of bitter grapefruit, a hint of dankness, and dryness reminiscent of a desert. The hops are present but take a back seat to the prominent grapefruit flavour. The result is a well-balanced, easy-drinking ale that is not too fruity, with just a hint of citrus enhancing its refreshing quality.

Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin IPA is typically sold in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans or bottles and can be found in select stores and online retailers. It is a popular choice for craft beer enthusiasts, with many praising its delicious flavour and fast delivery. The beer has received positive reviews, with some considering it one of their all-time favourite beers.

The Ballast Point Brewing Company has mastered the art of brewing, and their Grapefruit Sculpin IPA is a testament to their expertise. This beer is a delightful choice for those seeking a refreshing, citrusy IPA with a unique grapefruit twist. It exemplifies the bold levels of hop aroma, flavour, and bitterness characteristic of American IPAs, making it a must-try for craft beer enthusiasts.

Citrusy hops

Citra hops are considered the most citrusy-aroma hop in the world of beer. The name 'Citra' comes from its lineage, which includes U.S. Tettnanger, Hallertau Mittelfruh, Brewer’s Gold, East Kent Goldings, and an unknown variety, which has been attributed to the American wild hop. Citra lends a wide range of delicate fruity characteristics, including wonderful aromas and flavours of lime, grapefruit, bright orange, mango, lychee, and gooseberry.

Citra is a relatively new hop, and there are no other hops yet that come close enough to its characteristics to be called a “good” substitute. That being said, Citra is often used in conjunction with Cascade and Centennial hops, because of their somewhat similar fruitiness.

Other citrusy hops include:

• Cascade
• Amarillo
• Ahtanum
• Chinook
• Comet
• Centennial
• Simcoe
• Apollo
• Belma
• Barbe Rouge
• Calypso
• Chelan
• Citra
• Columbus
• CTZ
• Dana
• Delta
• Diamond Springs
• Ekuanot
• Galaxy
• HBC472
• HBC 586
• HBC 630
• Idaho 7
• Lemondrop
• Liberty
• Loral
• Mandarina Bavaria
• Meridian
• Mistral
• Mosaic
• Mount Rainier
• Motueka
• Multihead
• Nectaron
• Newport
• Nugget
• NZH-107
• Old Mission
• Olympic
• Opal
• Pacific Jade
• Pacifica
• Pekko
• Pilgrim
• Riwaka
• Sabro
• Sasquatch
• Southern Cross
• Southern Dawn
• Southern Promise
• Southern Sublime
• Southern Tropic
• Sticklebract
• Strisselspalt
• Styrian Dragon
• Summer
• Summit
• Sussex
• Tahoma
• Talus
• Tomahawk
• Trident
• Triple Pearl
• Triskel
• Triumph
• Tsingdao Flower
• USDA 008
• Vista
• Wai-iti
• Waimea
• Walhalla
• Willamette
• Wurttemberg
• XJA/436
• Zappa
• Zenia
• Zenith
• Zula
• Zythos

Frequently asked questions