Krush Hops – T90 Pellets
Krush® is an expressive American dual-purpose hop packed with ripe orange, mango, guava, peach, berry and tropical-fruit characteristics. Originally known as experimental variety HBC 586, Krush was commercially released in 2024 following an extensive breeding and evaluation program.
Krush delivers a powerful fruit-cocktail aroma supported by citrus, stone fruit and subtle woody notes. It performs particularly well in late-boil, whirlpool and dry-hop additions but has sufficient alpha acids to provide effective bitterness when required.
Its ripe, punchy fruit character makes Krush an excellent choice for American Pale Ales, West Coast IPAs, hazy beers and modern hop-forward lagers.
Specifications
- Hop variety: Krush® HBC 586
- Format: T90 hop pellets
- Origin: United States
- Purpose: Dual-purpose
- Alpha acids: Approximately 10–15%
- Beta acids: Approximately 7–10%
- Total oils: Approximately 0.5–3.0 mL per 100g
- Cohumulone: Approximately 34–40% of alpha acids
- Primary characteristics: Citrus, tropical fruit, stone fruit, berry and woody
- Common flavour impressions: Orange, mango, guava, peach and mixed berries
Recommended Beer Styles and Usage Rates
| Beer style | Aroma or whirlpool addition | Dry-hop addition |
|---|---|---|
| Hop-forward Lager | 0.5–2 g/L | 1–3 g/L |
| West Coast Pilsner | 1–2.5 g/L | 1.5–4 g/L |
| Session Pale Ale | 1–3 g/L | 2–4 g/L |
| American Pale Ale | 2–4 g/L | 3–6 g/L |
| West Coast Pale Ale | 2–4.5 g/L | 3–7 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 | 3–5.5 g/L | 4–9 g/L |
| Hazy IPA or NEIPA | 3–6 g/L | 6–12 g/L |
| Double IPA | 4–7 g/L | 8–15 g/L |
| Fruited Sour Beer | 1–3 g/L | 1.5–4 g/L |
The quantities above indicate the total hop amount used at each stage. Krush can make up the entire addition in a single-hop beer or approximately 25–60% of a hop blend. Adjust the rates to suit your recipe, brewing system and desired aroma intensity.
How to Use Krush Hops
Bittering
Krush’s relatively high alpha-acid content makes it suitable for bittering additions. Calculate the required quantity using the exact alpha-acid percentage printed on your packet and the target bitterness of your recipe.
Although Krush can provide effective bitterness, many brewers reserve most of it for later additions to maximise its distinctive fruit aroma.
Late Kettle and Whirlpool
Add Krush during the final 10 minutes of the boil or in the whirlpool for concentrated orange, mango, guava, peach and berry character.
Lower-temperature whirlpool additions can help retain more of its ripe tropical-fruit and stone-fruit aromas. Krush can be used alone or blended with citrus, tropical or resinous varieties to create additional complexity.
Dry Hopping
Dry hop after active fermentation has slowed for its strongest orange, mango, guava, peach and mixed-berry aroma.
Moderate rates provide a bright and balanced fruit character, while larger additions create the saturated tropical and stone-fruit aroma expected in modern hazy Pale Ales and IPAs.
Hop Pairings
Krush works well by itself and combines particularly well with:
- Citra for mango, lime, grapefruit and tropical fruit
- Mosaic for berry, citrus and tropical-fruit complexity
- Simcoe for grapefruit, pine and stone fruit
- Idaho 7 for pineapple, apricot and tropical fruit
- Strata for passionfruit, strawberry and dank notes
- El Dorado for pear, watermelon and stone fruit
- Amarillo for orange and floral character
- Galaxy for passionfruit, peach and citrus
- Nelson Sauvin for white wine, gooseberry and tropical fruit
- Riwaka for intense grapefruit and passionfruit
Possible Krush Hop Substitutes
No hop provides an exact replacement for Krush’s combination of orange, mango, guava, peach and mixed berries. Depending on the recipe, suitable alternatives may include Citra, Mosaic, Idaho 7, El Dorado or Strata.
A blend of Citra and Mosaic can provide a similarly broad tropical, citrus and berry profile. Always account for differences in alpha acids when substituting hops in a bittering addition.
Storage
Store Krush 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 Krush hops taste like?
Krush hops are known for ripe orange, mango, guava, peach and mixed-berry characteristics. These fruit flavours are supported by citrus, tropical, stone-fruit and subtle woody notes.
Is Krush the same hop as HBC 586?
Yes. Krush is the commercial brand name given to experimental hop variety HBC 586. It was officially released as Krush after an extensive breeding and evaluation program.
Are Krush hops suitable for bittering?
Yes. Krush is a dual-purpose hop with sufficient alpha acids for efficient bittering. However, many brewers favour late-boil, whirlpool and dry-hop additions to maximise its distinctive fruit character.
Can Krush be used as a single hop?
Yes. Krush is an excellent choice for single-hop Pale Ales and IPAs because it can provide bitterness, flavour and aroma. A single-hop beer will showcase its broad fruit-cocktail character.
What beer styles suit Krush hops?
Krush is particularly well suited to American Pale Ale, West Coast Pale Ale, American IPA, West Coast IPA, Hazy IPA, Double IPA and hop-forward lager. Its fruit character can also complement modern sour and wheat beers.
When should Krush hops be added?
Use Krush early in the boil for bitterness, late in the boil for flavour, in the whirlpool for concentrated fruit character or as a dry hop for its strongest orange, mango, guava, peach and berry aroma.
Is Krush suitable for hazy IPA?
Yes. Krush’s ripe mango, guava, peach and berry characteristics are well suited to hazy IPA. It can be used alone or paired with varieties such as Citra, Mosaic, Idaho 7 or Strata.
What is the difference between Krush and Citra?
Both hops produce strong citrus and tropical-fruit aromas. Citra commonly leans towards mango, lime and grapefruit, while Krush offers a broader fruit-cocktail character featuring orange, guava, peach and mixed berries.
