Contessa Hops

Contessa: a “noble‐type” 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 that’s 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, noble‐like 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, dry‐hopped lagers, hybrid styles calling for mild hop character.
• Similar Varieties: Willamette, Hersbrucker Spät, 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). It’s designed to give U.S. brewers a noble‐type hop with delicate aromatics and moderate alpha acids. It has been seen as promising in dry‐hopped lagers and styles where hop flavor is appreciated but classic noble refinement is desired.

Contessa Hop Analysis

Alpha Acids	≈ 3.0 ‒ 5.0 % (typical ~4 %)
Beta Acids	≈ 5.0 ‒ 7.4 %
Cohumulone (as % of α-acids)	≈ 29 ‒ 32 %
Total Oil Content	≈ 0.8 ‒ 1.9 mL / 100 g
Linalool	≈ 0.9 ‒ 1.0 % of total oil