Citra Hops
Citra® is one of the world’s most popular American aroma hops, celebrated for its intense citrus, tropical fruit and stone-fruit character. Expect bright flavours and aromas of grapefruit, lime, orange, mango, passionfruit and peach, supported by subtle woody notes.
Citra T90 hop pellets are ideal for American Pale Ales, West Coast IPAs, hazy beers and other hop-forward styles. Its high alpha-acid and essential-oil content also makes Citra a versatile dual-purpose hop that can be used for bittering, late-boil additions, whirlpool additions and dry hopping.
Citra Hop Specifications
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Origin: United States
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Variety: Citra® HBC 394
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Form: T90 hop pellets
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Alpha acids: Approx. 10–16%
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Beta acids: Approx. 3–4.5%
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Cohumulone: Approx. 20–24% of alpha acids
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Total oils: Approx. 1–3ml per 100g
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Primary use: Aroma, flavour and dual-purpose
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Aroma profile: Citrus, tropical fruit, stone fruit and subtle woody notes
Alpha acid levels vary between crops and individual batches. Check the product title, packaging or current certificate of analysis for the exact alpha-acid content before calculating bitterness.
What Do Citra Hops Taste Like?
Citra produces a powerful fruit-forward hop profile with flavours and aromas reminiscent of:
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Grapefruit and fresh citrus
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Lime and orange
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Mango and passionfruit
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Peach and stone fruit
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Melon and tropical fruit
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Subtle woody undertones
Citra’s distinctive combination of citrus and tropical fruit makes it highly effective as a single hop. It can also provide the citrus foundation for more complex hop combinations.
How to Use Citra Hops
Citra is a versatile dual-purpose hop with enough alpha acid for efficient bittering. However, its most desirable qualities are usually showcased through late-boil, whirlpool and dry-hop additions.
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Bittering: Use early in the boil for firm, efficient bitterness.
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Late boil: Add during the final 5–10 minutes for citrus and tropical flavour.
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Whirlpool: Add at approximately 75–85°C to retain more of its fruit-forward aroma.
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Dry hopping: Add during or after fermentation for intense grapefruit, lime, mango and passionfruit aroma.
Citra can be used throughout the brewing process, but many brewers use a neutral bittering hop early in the boil and reserve Citra for aroma and dry-hop additions.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| American Wheat Beer | 0.5–1.5g/L | 0–1.5g/L |
| American Saison | 0.5–2g/L | 0.5–2.5g/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 |
| American Pale Ale | 2–4g/L | 3–6g/L |
| Hazy Pale Ale | 2.5–5g/L | 4–8g/L |
| American IPA | 2.5–5g/L | 4–8g/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 Citra in a hop blend, it can make up approximately 25–50% of the total aroma or dry-hop addition.
Citra can also be used for 100% of the addition in a single-hop beer. Start toward the lower end in lagers, wheat beers and saisons, as its citrus and tropical-fruit character can quickly become dominant.
What Hops Pair Well with Citra?
Citra is highly versatile and pairs well with many American, Australian and New Zealand hop varieties.
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Mosaic adds berry, blueberry, tropical fruit and subtle dankness.
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Simcoe adds grapefruit, pine, resin and earthy complexity.
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Amarillo reinforces orange, citrus and floral character.
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Cascade adds classic grapefruit, floral and spicy notes.
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Centennial adds lemon, grapefruit, floral and resinous character.
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Galaxy adds passionfruit, peach and intense tropical fruit.
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Nelson Sauvin adds white grape, gooseberry and tropical complexity.
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Motueka adds fresh lime and citrus.
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Strata adds passionfruit, citrus, strawberry and dank character.
Citra Hop Substitutions
There is no exact substitute for Citra’s combination of grapefruit, lime and tropical fruit. Depending on the recipe, suitable alternatives include:
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Mosaic for tropical fruit, berry and citrus
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Amarillo for orange, grapefruit and floral character
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Centennial for grapefruit, lemon and resin
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Simcoe for grapefruit, citrus and pine
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Galaxy for passionfruit and intense tropical fruit
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Eclipse for mandarin, citrus and tropical fruit
When substituting hops, recalculate the bittering addition using the alpha-acid percentage of the replacement hop.
Freshly Packed and Cold Stored
Our Citra T90 hop pellets are sealed in barrier packaging and cold stored to help protect their essential oils, aroma, 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 US hops or shop all homebrewing hops available from Border Brewing Supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Citra an aroma or bittering hop?
Citra is considered a dual-purpose hop. Its relatively high alpha-acid content makes it suitable for bittering, but it is best known for the intense citrus and tropical-fruit character it contributes through late-boil, whirlpool and dry-hop additions.
Can Citra be used as a single hop?
Yes. Citra is an excellent single-hop variety for pale ales, IPAs and hop-forward lagers. A single-hop beer allows its grapefruit, lime, mango and passionfruit character to stand out.
Is Citra suitable for dry hopping?
Yes. Citra is one of the most popular dry-hopping varieties. It can be used alone or combined with hops such as Mosaic, Simcoe, Amarillo, Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin or Motueka.
How much Citra should I use?
The ideal amount depends on the beer style and desired intensity. Hop-forward lagers may use approximately 1–2.5g/L in the dry hop, while pale ales may use 3–6g/L. Intensely aromatic hazy IPAs may use total dry-hop rates of approximately 6–12g/L.
When using a blend, Citra 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 Citra whirlpool addition?
A whirlpool temperature of approximately 75–85°C is a useful starting point. This helps retain Citra’s citrus and tropical-fruit aroma while limiting additional bitterness.
What is the best hop to pair with Citra?
Mosaic is one of the most popular hops to pair with Citra, adding berry and tropical complexity. Simcoe works well when more grapefruit, pine and resin are wanted, while Galaxy or Nelson Sauvin can create a more intensely tropical combination.
How should Citra hops be stored?
Keep unopened Citra 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.
