Brewers and beer lovers alike know that when it comes to craft beer, nothing steals the show like hops. But hops are hardly one-size-fits all. There are hundreds of hop varieties, each with different flavors, aromas, and nuances. Combine those hops and you’ve got an infinite wheel of possibilities.
But the most popular hop of them all? These days, that’s Citra. Citra hops are used more than any other hop in the world. How did it get to be so popular? And how did Citra claim the number-one spot? Let’s break it down.
What are Citra hops?
First grown in Yakima, WA decades ago, Citra has become prized for both its high alpha-acid content and smooth flavor, making it a versatile, dual-purpose hop that adds both bitterness and flavor to a beer. It’s also high in Myrcene oil, which contributes to its resinous, citrus-fruity flavor, making it a perfect choice for an IPA.
What does Citra taste like?
Citra Hops are bold with intense flavors of citrus and tropical fruit. Notes of grapefruit, orange, and lime take the forefront, followed by big mango, passion fruit, and lychee flavors. Astute tasters may even pick up notes of pineapple.
When did Citra become popular?
Back in the 1990s, Citra was still an experimental hop going through rounds of breeding and perfecting. But in the 2000s, the hop we now know as Citra was released. Our brewery was among the first to invest in this new hop. Excited by the powerful flavor and aroma possibilities, we used Citra in a new beer: Torpedo Extra IPA. Named after our revolutionary dry-hopping device, the hop torpedo, this West Coast IPA is packed with Citra hops for an intense burst of resinous citrus and tropical fruit flavor.
The world took notice. Torpedo flew off the shelves and quickly became a year-round beer and a primary example of a West Coast IPA. More than a decade later, Torpedo remains a fan favorite. Soon after, we started using Citra in other beers, most notably in Hazy Little Thing, which is now our number one best-selling beer.
The beauty of hops is that different combinations can create completely different flavors. Combine Citra with Crystal hops and you get the danky, resinous grapefruit zip of Torpedo. But add Mosaic instead, and you get a punch of tropical fruit like in Hazy Little Thing.
These beers, among others, drove demand for Citra through the roof, making the hop a primary choice for IPAs. Hop growers ramped up to meet production for the soaring demand. Today, Citra is craft beer’s most popular hop.
What beers are made with Citra hops?
Many Sierra Nevada brews now use Citra: Hazy Little Thing and Torpedo, as mentioned, but also our sparkling hop water, Hop Splash, our hazy imperial Big Little Thing, and others.
But no beer better highlights the powerful flavors and aromas of Citra than our ode to this star hop: Citra Little Thing. Citra Little Thing is ripe with citrus and tropical flavors, but there’s no fruit in the beer—it’s all thanks to the Citra hop.
In Citra Little Thing, we aimed to highlight Citra itself, particularly its orange character, so we went heavy on the Citra hops. The result? A citrusy, velvety brew with a bright orange pop.
Let’s try something: crack open a can of Citra Little Thing, pour it into a glass and take a sniff. Smell that vibrant orange aroma? One taste and you’ll be swimming in its smooth, velvety mouthfeel. But that grapefruit finish ensures it goes down clean, so you’ll be taking another sip in no time. All thanks to the Citra hop. Big citrus flavor and a silky-smooth mouthfeel? We’ll drink to that!
Next time you’re enjoying an IPA—be it a hazy IPA ripe with tropical fruit or a West Coast IPA that’s bold with pine and citrus—you can probably thank the Citra hop.
