Bright Lemon Citrus • Mint and Green Tea • Clean and Sessionable
Lemondrop is a Hopsteiner aroma hop released in 2012 and bred from Cascade. The name tells you most of what you need to know: it gives a clear lemon character that reads fresh rather than sharp, with a little mint and green tea behind it.
Our lot measures 5.0% alpha acid, which keeps it gentle enough to use generously late in the boil without piling on bitterness. That makes it a good fit for lighter beers where you want citrus aroma but not a hop-bomb.
Flavor & Aroma Profile
- Lemon and lemon candy
- Light mint
- Green tea
- Faint melon
- Soft Cascade-style citrus underneath
At lower rates it gives a clean lemon note that sits nicely over a pale malt bill. Larger late additions and dry hops bring out the mint and tea side and make the citrus more pronounced.
Brewing Applications
Lemondrop works well in light, crisp and hop-forward styles, including:
- American Pale Ale
- Blonde Ale
- Kolsch
- Hefeweizen
- Hoppy Lager
- Session IPA
It also adds a lemon layer to IPAs and hazy IPAs when blended with fruitier varieties.
Usage Recommendations
For a 5 gallon batch, add 1 oz at 10 minutes or in the whirlpool, and 1 to 2 oz as a dry hop for a more pronounced citrus aroma. In a Kolsch or hefeweizen, a single 0.5 to 1 oz addition at 5 minutes is enough to add lemon without taking over.
Pair it with Cascade or Centennial for a classic American citrus profile, or with Alora for lemon on top of stone fruit.
Specifications
- Alpha Acid: 5.0% (measured on our lot)
- Flavor Notes: Lemon, mint, green tea, melon
- Typical Use: Aroma
- Common Additions: 10 min, whirlpool, dry hop
- Substitutes: Cascade, Mandarina Bavaria, Centennial
- Beer Styles: Pale ale, blonde ale, Kolsch, hefeweizen, hoppy lager
Whether you are brewing a crisp summer blonde or a citrus-forward pale ale, Lemondrop adds bright lemon character that stays clean and easy to drink.