Contessa Hops

Contessa: a nobletype hop from Hopsteiner that combines the elegance of classic European hops with U.S. cultivation. It offers soft, delicate aromatics green tea, light pear, floral notes, hints of lemongrass and a clean bitterness thats ideal for lager and lighter styles. A great choice when you want subtlety and nuanced character rather than bold punch.

Contessa Hops Overview

• Flavors / Aromas: Green tea, floral, pear, soft herbal (lemongrass), slight citrus, noblelike elegance.
• Primary Usage: Bitterness & Aroma; early and finish additions, also suitable for kettle aroma in lighter beers.
• Best Beer Styles: Lagers, Pilsners, Kolsch, light ales, dryhopped lagers, hybrid styles calling for mild hop character.
• Similar Varieties: Willamette, Hersbrucker Spt, Saaz, Fuggle (noble hops and subtle U.S. aroma hops).

Background

Contessa is a cross between Fuggle and a Cascade male, developed by the Hopsteiner breeding program (experimental #04190). Its designed to give U.S. brewers a nobletype hop with delicate aromatics and moderate alpha acids. It has been seen as promising in dryhopped lagers and styles where hop flavor is appreciated but classic noble refinement is desired.

Contessa Hop Analysis