Galaxy Hops – Australian T90 Pellets
Galaxy® is Australia’s most internationally recognised hop, delivering an unmistakable combination of punchy passionfruit, juicy peach and tangy citrus. Its powerful aroma can also suggest orange, lemon and other ripe tropical fruits.
Galaxy is a high-alpha, intensely aromatic dual-purpose hop that can be used throughout the brewing process. It is particularly effective in late-kettle, whirlpool and dry-hop additions, where its passionfruit, peach and citrus characteristics become most prominent.
Its bold flavour has helped define Australian Pacific Ale and makes it an excellent choice for XPA, Hazy Pale Ale, IPA, NEIPA and other modern hop-forward beers.
Specifications
- Hop variety: Galaxy®
- Format: T90 hop pellets
- Origin: Australia
- Purpose: Dual-purpose
- Alpha acids: Approximately 16–20%
- Beta acids: Approximately 7.8–9.9%
- Cohumulone: Approximately 32–43% of alpha acids
- Total oils: Approximately 2.6–3.3 mL per 100g
- Parentage: High-alpha Australian and Perle hops
- Primary characteristics: Passionfruit, peach and citrus
- Common flavour impressions: Passionfruit, juicy peach, orange, lemon and tropical fruit
Recommended Beer Styles and Usage Rates
| Beer style | Aroma or whirlpool addition | Dry-hop addition |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Lager | 0.5–1.5 g/L | 1–2 g/L |
| Hop-Forward Lager | 0.5–2 g/L | 1–3 g/L |
| Pacific Ale | 1.5–3 g/L | 2–5 g/L |
| Australian XPA | 2–4 g/L | 3–6 g/L |
| American Pale Ale | 2–4 g/L | 3–6 g/L |
| Hazy Pale Ale | 2.5–5 g/L | 4–8 g/L |
| American IPA | 2.5–5 g/L | 4–8 g/L |
| West Coast IPA | 2.5–5 g/L | 4–8 g/L |
| Hazy IPA or NEIPA | 3–6 g/L | 6–12 g/L |
| Double IPA | 4–7 g/L | 8–14 g/L |
| Hop-Forward Sour | 1–3 g/L | 2–5 g/L |
The quantities above indicate the total hop amount used at each stage. Galaxy can make up the entire addition in a single-hop beer or approximately 25–50% of a hop blend.
Galaxy is an exceptionally intense hop. In beers with a light malt profile, start at the lower end of the suggested range to avoid harsh, grassy or overly dominant hop character.
How to Use Galaxy Hops
Bittering
Galaxy’s high alpha-acid content makes it an efficient bittering hop. Calculate the required quantity using the exact alpha-acid figure printed on the packet and the target bitterness of your recipe.
Although Galaxy can provide effective bitterness, many brewers reserve it for later additions to maximise its valuable passionfruit, peach and citrus aroma.
Late Kettle Additions
Add Galaxy during the final 5–10 minutes of the boil for concentrated tropical fruit and citrus flavour. Late-kettle additions can provide passionfruit, peach, orange and lemon character while contributing some bitterness.
Whirlpool Additions
Galaxy performs exceptionally well in the whirlpool. Lower-temperature additions can help retain more of its volatile fruit aromatics and produce a softer, juicier hop character.
Because Galaxy has a high oil content, restrained additions can still produce a significant flavour impact.
Dry Hopping
Dry hopping produces Galaxy’s most intense passionfruit, peach and citrus aroma. Moderate additions work well in Pacific Ale and XPA, while larger additions suit Hazy Pale Ale, IPA and NEIPA.
Avoid unnecessarily long dry-hop contact times, particularly at high rates, as Galaxy can develop grassy, vegetal or harsh characteristics when overused.
Hop Pairings
Galaxy works exceptionally well by itself and pairs particularly well with:
- Citra for mango, lime and grapefruit
- Mosaic for berry, mango and tropical fruit
- Nelson Sauvin for white wine, gooseberry and tropical fruit
- Motueka for lime, lemon and mojito-like citrus
- Riwaka for grapefruit and passionfruit
- Nectaron for pineapple, passionfruit and ripe peach
- Vic Secret for pineapple, pine and tropical fruit
- Eclipse for mandarin, citrus peel and fresh pine
- Simcoe for grapefruit, pine and resin
Possible Galaxy Hop Substitutes
No hop provides an exact replacement for Galaxy’s distinctive passionfruit, peach and citrus profile. Depending on the recipe, suitable alternatives may include Citra, Nectaron, Vic Secret, Riwaka, Mosaic or Idaho 7.
For the closest overall result, consider combining a tropical hop such as Citra or Nectaron with an Australian variety such as Vic Secret.
Storage
Store Galaxy hop pellets sealed, cold and protected from oxygen and light. After opening, remove as much air as possible, reseal the packet and return it to refrigerated or frozen storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Galaxy hops taste like?
Galaxy hops are best known for intense passionfruit, juicy peach and tangy citrus. They can also produce impressions of orange, lemon and other ripe tropical fruits.
Are Galaxy hops suitable for dry hopping?
Yes. Galaxy is particularly effective as a dry hop because of its powerful aroma and high essential-oil content. Dry hopping helps maximise its passionfruit, peach and citrus character.
Can Galaxy be used as a single hop?
Yes. Galaxy has enough bitterness, flavour and aroma to be used throughout a single-hop recipe. It is particularly well suited to Pacific Ale, XPA, Pale Ale and IPA.
Can Galaxy hops be used for bittering?
Yes. Galaxy’s high alpha-acid content makes it an efficient bittering hop. However, many brewers use a neutral bittering variety early in the boil and reserve Galaxy for late-kettle, whirlpool and dry-hop additions.
Why can Galaxy hops sometimes taste harsh or grassy?
Galaxy is an intensely flavoured, high-oil hop. Excessive quantities, long dry-hop contact times or heavy use in a very lean beer can produce grassy, vegetal or harsh flavours. Begin at the lower end of the recommended range and increase it to suit the recipe.
What beer styles suit Galaxy hops?
Galaxy is particularly well suited to Australian Pacific Ale, XPA, Hazy Pale Ale, American Pale Ale, IPA, NEIPA, Double IPA and modern hop-forward lager.
When should Galaxy hops be added?
Use Galaxy early in the boil for bitterness, late in the boil for flavour, in the whirlpool for concentrated tropical character or as a dry hop for its strongest passionfruit, peach and citrus aroma.
