Origin and Description
Spalt Hops, also called Spalter Spalt, is a natural hops variety originating from Spalt Germany. This variety carries a great tradition in German brewing and has made an impact around the world. It is a part of the Saaz family of hops. Spalt is sought after for German-style Lagers, Helles, Pilsners and more. Spalt is a parent of Spalt Spalt Select which has better growing characteristics.
Spalt Hops is an aroma variety and has a low alpha acid content at 4.0%-5.0% with a 1:1 alpha beta ratio. This prolific variety is among the noble varieties due to its low co-humulone content and resembles Tettnanger. Spalt has abundance in all of the essential oils including farnesene which is barely traceable in many hop varieties. The lupulin from Spalt is a pale yellow, and overall the cone provides a signature aroma of zesty spice that is temperate and not overbearing. It is suitable throughout the boil and for dry-hopping German strongholds including Kolsch, Alts, Bocks, and the styles mentioned above.
Spalt hops is only grown in the Spalt, Germany region, and in limited quality. Its available on the markets, and is a part of beers found around the world. The small tight cones are harvested early to mid season after a vigorous growing cycle. Spalt Hops is tolerant to verticillium wilt as well as downy mildew which gives it a leg up in today's day and age of hop horticulture.
Spalt Hops Usage
Spalt hops is commonly used as as aroma agent in beer.
Spalt Hops Characteristics
Below is a list of characteristics for spalt hops that impact farming, chemistry, transport & trade, beer production, as well as the final character of the finished product.
Spalt Hops Acid Composition
| Alpha Acid Composition | 4%-5% |  |
| Beta Acid Composition | 4%-5% |  |
| Co-Humulone Composition | 23%-28% |  |
Spalt Hops Cone Physical Characteristics
| Spalt Lupulin Color | Pale Yellow |  |
| Spalt Cone Size | Small to Medium |  |
| Spalt Cone Density | Compact |  |
Spalt Hops Growth, Harvest, and Storage Details
| Maturity | Early to Mid Season |  |
| Yield | Yield for Spalt Hops is Low at 1000 - 1400 kg/hectare |  |
| Growth Rate | Vigorous |  |
| Susceptibility to Disease and Pests | Resistent To: Verticillium Wilt,Downy Mildew, |  |
| Storability | Spalt Hops maintains 50%-60% alpha acid comtents after 6 months storage at 20 degrees C |  |
| Ease of Harvest | Good |  |
Spalt Hops Oil Composition
| Total Oil Composition | 0.5-1.1 mls/100 grams |  |
| Myrcene Oil Composition | 15%-25% |  |
| Humulene Oil Composition | 18%-25% |  |
| Caryophyllene Oil Composition | 10%-15% |  |
| Farnesene Oil Composition | 10%-15% |  |
Spalt Hops Substitutes
| Variety | Description |
|---|---|
| Saaz | Saaz Hops has changed the world of brewing forever, as it is an esteemed and honored variety that helped to define European Lagers and Bohemian Pilsners. It is... |
| Tettnanger (GR) | Tettnanger Hops gets its name from the Tettnang area of Germany. Tettnang is a famous hops growing region (and town) near the southern border, near Lake Bodens... |
| Spalter Select | Spalt Select Hops was bred as a cross between Spalt and Hallertauer Mittlefrüh by the Hops Research Institute in Hull, Germany. Its origination is circa late ... |
| Santiam | Santiam Hops was released in 1997 by the USDA and is a cross between 1/3 German Tettnanger, 1/3 Hallertauer Mittelfrüh, and 1/3 tetrapoild USDA Male. Both of ... |
Common Beer Styles for Spalt Hops
| Beer Style |
|---|
| Strong Ale |
| Alt Bier |
| Hefeweizen |
| Belgian India Pale Ale |
| Lager |
| Pilsner |
| Helles Bock |
| American Wheat |
| Pale Ale |
| German Lager |
| Helles |
