Superdelic Hops
Superdelic™ is a modern New Zealand hop bursting with distinctive flavours and aromas of red berries, sweet candy, citrus and tropical fruit. Its playful, fruit-forward character makes it an excellent choice for juicy pale ales, hazy IPAs, New Zealand IPAs and modern hop-forward lagers.
Superdelic can be used throughout the brewing process but performs particularly well in late-boil, whirlpool and dry-hop additions, where its berry, citrus and sweet tropical character can take centre stage.
Superdelic Hop Specifications
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Origin: New Zealand
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Form: T90 hop pellets
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Typical alpha acid range: Approximately 9–12%
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Beta acids: Approximately 3–5%
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Total oils: Approximately 1.5–2.2ml per 100g
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Primary use: Aroma, flavour and dual-purpose
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Aroma profile: Red fruit, berry, candy, citrus and tropical fruit
Alpha acid levels vary between harvests and individual hop lots. Always use the alpha acid percentage shown on the product label when calculating bitterness.
What Does Superdelic Taste Like?
Superdelic has a distinctive sweet and fruit-driven profile with flavours and aromas reminiscent of:
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Red berries and mixed berry lollies
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Sweet candy and fruit chews
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Citrus and lime
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Mango and tropical fruit
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Stone fruit and subtle sweet spice
Its unusual combination of red fruit, citrus and candy makes Superdelic stand apart from more traditionally tropical New Zealand hop varieties.
How to Use Superdelic Hops
Superdelic is a versatile dual-purpose hop with enough alpha acid for bittering. However, its most distinctive qualities are best preserved in late-boil, whirlpool and dry-hop additions.
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Bittering: Use early in the boil for clean, efficient bitterness.
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Late boil: Add during the final 5–10 minutes for citrus, berry and tropical flavour.
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Whirlpool: Add at approximately 75–85°C to retain its sweet fruit and candy-like aromatics.
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Dry hopping: Add during or after fermentation for the strongest red fruit, citrus and tropical aroma.
Recommended Beer Styles and Usage Rates
The following rates are practical starting points. “Aroma addition” refers to hops added during the final 10 minutes of the boil or in the whirlpool.
| Recommended beer style | Aroma addition | Dry hop |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Pilsner | 0.5–1.5g/L | 0.5–2g/L |
| Hop-Forward Lager | 0.5–2g/L | 1–2.5g/L |
| West Coast Pilsner | 1–2.5g/L | 1.5–3.5g/L |
| Session Pale Ale | 1–2.5g/L | 2–4g/L |
| New Zealand Pale Ale | 2–4g/L | 3–6g/L |
| American Pale Ale | 2–4g/L | 3–6g/L |
| Hazy Pale Ale | 2.5–5g/L | 4–8g/L |
| New Zealand IPA | 2.5–5g/L | 5–9g/L |
| West Coast IPA | 2.5–5g/L | 4–8g/L |
| Hazy IPA or New England IPA | 3–6g/L | 6–12g/L |
| Double IPA | 4–7g/L | 8–15g/L |
These rates refer to the total hops used at each stage. When using Superdelic in a hop blend, it can make up approximately 25–50% of the total aroma or dry-hop addition.
Superdelic can also be used for 100% of the addition in a single-hop beer. Start toward the lower end in lagers and more delicate styles, as its sweet berry, candy and tropical-fruit character can be quite expressive.
What Hops Pair Well with Superdelic?
Superdelic works well as a single hop but can also add sweet berry and candy character to a hop blend.
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Nectaron adds peach, pineapple and passionfruit.
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Nelson Sauvin adds white grape, gooseberry and tropical complexity.
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Motueka reinforces lime and fresh citrus character.
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Riwaka adds intense passionfruit and grapefruit.
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Citra builds citrus, mango and tropical fruit.
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Mosaic complements the berry and tropical characteristics.
Superdelic Hop Substitutions
There is no exact replacement for Superdelic’s combination of red fruit, candy and tropical flavours. Depending on the recipe, suitable alternatives include:
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El Dorado for sweet candy, pear and stone fruit
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Mosaic for berry, citrus and tropical fruit
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Nectaron for intense tropical and stone fruit
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Motueka for New Zealand lime and citrus character
Freshly Packed and Cold Stored
Our Superdelic T90 hop pellets are sealed in barrier packaging and cold stored to help protect their delicate aroma oils, flavour and brewing quality.
For best results, keep unopened hops refrigerated or frozen. After opening, remove as much air as possible, reseal securely and return them to the freezer.
Explore our complete range of Australian and New Zealand hops or shop all homebrewing hops available from Border Brewing Supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Superdelic an aroma or bittering hop?
Superdelic is considered a dual-purpose hop and contains enough alpha acid for bittering. However, it is most valued for its red fruit, candy, citrus and tropical aromas when used in late-boil, whirlpool and dry-hop additions.
Can Superdelic be used as a single hop?
Yes. Superdelic is an excellent choice for a single-hop pale ale, IPA or modern lager. A single-hop beer allows its unusual berry, citrus and sweet candy character to stand out.
Is Superdelic suitable for dry hopping?
Yes. Dry hopping is one of the best ways to showcase Superdelic. It can be used alone or combined with varieties such as Nectaron, Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, Riwaka, Citra or Mosaic.
How much Superdelic should I use?
The ideal amount depends on the beer style and desired intensity. Approximately 0.5–2g/L can suit a hop-forward lager, while pale ales may use 3–6g/L in the dry hop. Intensely aromatic hazy IPAs may use total dry-hop rates of 6–12g/L.
When using a hop blend, Superdelic can make up approximately 25–50% of the total addition. It can also be used at 100% in a single-hop beer.
What temperature should I use for a Superdelic whirlpool addition?
A whirlpool temperature of approximately 75–85°C is a useful starting point. This helps retain Superdelic’s berry, candy, citrus and tropical aromas while limiting additional bitterness.
Where are Superdelic hops grown?
Superdelic is a New Zealand hop variety developed through the country’s hop breeding programme. It was commercially released in 2023 after more than a decade of breeding and brewing trials.
How should Superdelic hops be stored?
Keep unopened hops refrigerated or frozen in their original sealed packaging. Once opened, remove as much air as possible, reseal securely and store them in the freezer.
