Strata Hops – T90 Pellets
Strata® is an expressive American aroma hop renowned for its layered combination of passionfruit, strawberry, grapefruit and melon, backed by distinctive dank cannabis, fresh sage and subtle dried-chilli spice.
Developed through the Indie Hops and Oregon State University hop-breeding program, Strata descends from an open-pollinated Perle plant discovered in an experimental field in Corvallis, Oregon. Its combination of intense fruit, citrus and dank character has made it particularly popular in modern American Pale Ales, West Coast IPAs, Hazy IPAs and Double IPAs.
Strata performs exceptionally well as a single hop but is equally effective in blends. Late hot-side additions and additions during active fermentation can emphasise passionfruit and strawberry, while post-fermentation dry hopping may bring forward ruby grapefruit and its characteristic dank cannabis character.
Specifications
- Hop variety: Strata®
- Format: T90 hop pellets
- Origin: Oregon, United States
- Purpose: Aroma and dual-purpose
- Alpha acids: Approximately 12–15%
- Beta acids: Approximately 5–6%
- Total oils: Approximately 2.3–3.5 mL per 100 g
- Cohumulone: Approximately 21% of alpha acids
- Myrcene: Approximately 52–65% of total oils
- Parentage: Open-pollinated Perle
- Released: 2018
- Primary characteristics: Passionfruit, strawberry, grapefruit, melon and dank cannabis
- Secondary impressions: Fresh sage, herbs, spice and dried chilli
Recommended Beer Styles and Usage Rates
| Beer style | Suggested IBU | Aroma or whirlpool addition | Dry-hop addition |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Pale Ale | 25–45 IBU | 1.5–4 g/L | 2.5–6 g/L |
| West Coast Pale Ale | 30–50 IBU | 2–4.5 g/L | 3–6 g/L |
| American IPA | 40–70 IBU | 2–5 g/L | 4–8 g/L |
| West Coast IPA | 45–75 IBU | 2.5–5 g/L | 4–8 g/L |
| Hazy IPA | 25–50 IBU | 2.5–6 g/L | 5–10 g/L |
| Double IPA | 60–100 IBU | 3–6 g/L | 6–10 g/L |
| Session IPA | 25–45 IBU | 1.5–4 g/L | 3–6 g/L |
| American Wheat Beer | 15–30 IBU | 1–3 g/L | 2–5 g/L |
| Modern American Lager | 18–35 IBU | 0.75–2.5 g/L | 1–3 g/L |
| Cold IPA | 40–70 IBU | 2–4.5 g/L | 3–7 g/L |
| Saison | 20–35 IBU | 1–3 g/L | 1.5–4 g/L |
The suggested IBU figures indicate total bitterness in the finished beer. Aroma and dry-hop quantities show the total Strata used at each stage.
Strata can make up the entire addition in a single-hop beer or approximately 25–70% of a hop blend. Its pungent dank character becomes increasingly prominent at higher rates, so adjust additions to suit the desired balance of fruit and cannabis-like aroma.
How to Use Strata Hops
Bittering
Strata’s relatively high alpha-acid content allows it to provide efficient bitterness, although its distinctive oils are generally best showcased in late-boil, whirlpool and dry-hop additions.
When using Strata for bittering, calculate the required quantity from the exact alpha-acid percentage printed on your packet.
Late Kettle Additions
Add Strata during the final 5–10 minutes of the boil for passionfruit, strawberry, grapefruit and herbal flavour.
Late hot-side additions can help emphasise its ripe fruit character while adding enough dankness and spice to give the beer additional depth.
Whirlpool
Use Strata in the whirlpool for concentrated tropical fruit, berry, citrus and dank aroma. Whirlpool temperatures around 75–85°C can help retain more of its volatile fruit character while moderating additional bitterness.
Strata works especially well as a prominent component of the whirlpool addition in modern Pale Ales and IPAs.
Dry Hopping
Dry hop during active fermentation to encourage passionfruit and strawberry expression. Dry hopping after fermentation has finished may produce more ruby grapefruit and pungent cannabis-like character.
For a balanced Pale Ale, begin around 2.5–4 g/L. Modern IPAs may use 5–8 g/L or more, either alone or as part of a blend.
Hop Pairings
Strata combines particularly well with:
- Citra for mango, lime and tropical citrus
- Mosaic for berries, tropical fruit and citrus
- Columbus/CTZ for dankness, resin and spice
- Chinook for pine, grapefruit and resin
- Cascade for grapefruit and floral character
- Simcoe for pine, grapefruit and stone fruit
- Amarillo for orange and floral notes
- Idaho 7 for pineapple, apricot and tropical fruit
- Galaxy for passionfruit and citrus
- Nelson Sauvin for white grape, gooseberry and tropical fruit
- Motueka for lime, lemon and fresh tropical character
- Krush for orange, mango, guava and mixed berries
Possible Strata Hop Substitutes
No single hop precisely recreates Strata’s combination of strawberry, passionfruit, grapefruit and dank cannabis.
Depending on the recipe, suitable alternatives or combinations may include:
- Mosaic for berry, tropical fruit and dank character
- Columbus/CTZ for pungent cannabis, citrus and resin
- Simcoe for grapefruit, pine and subtle fruit
- Citra for passionfruit and tropical citrus
- Galaxy for intense passionfruit
- Chinook for grapefruit, herbs, spice and resin
A blend of Mosaic and Columbus/CTZ is one of the closer options when both fruit and dankness are required.
Always recalculate bitterness when substituting hops with a different alpha-acid percentage.
Storage
Store Strata hop pellets sealed, cold and protected from oxygen and light. Keep unopened packets refrigerated or frozen.
After opening, remove as much air as possible, reseal the packet securely and return it to refrigerated or frozen storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Strata hops taste like?
Strata is known for passionfruit, strawberry, grapefruit and melon supported by dank cannabis, fresh sage, herbs and subtle dried-chilli spice.
Are Strata hops suitable for bittering?
Yes. Strata’s typical alpha-acid content of approximately 12–15% makes it suitable for bittering. However, many brewers reserve it for later additions to retain more of its distinctive fruit and dank aroma.
Can Strata be used as a single hop?
Yes. Strata works exceptionally well as a single hop because it can provide bitterness, flavour and aroma. A single-hop beer will showcase its combination of tropical fruit, strawberry, grapefruit and pungent dankness.
Is Strata suitable for Hazy IPA?
Yes. Strata is particularly well suited to Hazy IPA. Its passionfruit, strawberry and melon characteristics complement a soft malt profile, while its dank character adds complexity and prevents the beer from tasting one-dimensional.
Is Strata suitable for West Coast IPA?
Yes. Strata can bring modern passionfruit and strawberry character to a West Coast IPA while retaining the grapefruit, herbal and dank qualities associated with the style. It works particularly well with Chinook, Cascade, Simcoe and Columbus/CTZ.
Can Strata be used in lager?
Yes. Restrained whirlpool or dry-hop additions can add clean strawberry, grapefruit and subtle herbal character to modern lagers and Cold IPAs. Its Perle heritage may help it integrate more naturally into lager styles than some intensely tropical varieties.
When should Strata hops be added?
Use Strata early in the boil for bitterness, during the final 5–10 minutes for flavour, in the whirlpool for concentrated fruit and citrus, or as a dry hop for its strongest tropical and dank aroma.
When is the best time to dry hop with Strata?
Dry hopping during active fermentation tends to emphasise passionfruit and strawberry. A post-fermentation addition can bring forward grapefruit and pungent cannabis-like character. This behaviour is specifically noted by Strata’s breeder. indiehops.com
What are the best hops to pair with Strata?
Citra and Mosaic are excellent choices for a fruit-forward beer. Columbus/CTZ, Chinook or Simcoe will reinforce Strata’s dank, pine and grapefruit character.
What is the closest substitute for Strata?
There is no exact substitute. Mosaic is one of the closest single-hop options, while a blend of Mosaic and Columbus/CTZ can provide a closer combination of fruit and dankness.
Why Buy Strata Hops from Border Brewing Supplies?
Border Brewing Supplies provides quality T90 hop pellets for home brewers throughout Australia. Shop online for delivery or use Click & Collect from our Tweed Heads South home brew shop, conveniently located for customers across the Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Queensland–New South Wales border region.
