Hallertauer, Spalt, Saaz & Marynka hops
This loose group of hops, Hallertauer, Spalt, Saaz and Marynka are amongst the most widely used ingredient in European, and in particular Eastern European, beers.
They include the noble Hallertauer hop family; Hersbrucker, utilised to create the distinctive taste of German lagers and Wheatbeers; Mittelfrueh, an assertive hop widely used in German ales and Continental lagers, and the mother of the family; the Hallertauer hop. This hop is known for its pleasant and mildly spicy flavour.
Also included is the distant antipodean cousin, New Zealand Hallertauer. A variant of the Hallertauer Mittelfrueh, its ability to retain a clean sharp taste makes it a popular ingredient in Australian ales.
Another widely used German hop is the Spalter hop. This hop, with an alpha content of 4.5%, is excellent for both bittering and aroma. Traditionally found in Altbiers, especially Düsseldorf Altbiers it has a mild, pleasant, very slightly spiced flavour.
Moving further into the old Eastern Block countries, we come to Saaz hops (Saazer) from the Czech Republic. This hop is a huge favourite throughout the world and reacts perfectly with the soft water in Pilsen to produce perfect Pilsners and Bohemian lagers.
Lastly, we conclude our mini-tour of Europe in Poland. The Marynka hop is a few generations removed in heritage from the Czech Saaz. It was developed at the Agricultural Institute of Poland right in the middle of a region dominated by the Lublin hop. Its character is often described as earthy, rooty or liquorice. It is extremely aromatic with a good bitterness and is becoming increasingly popular amongst home brewers.
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