Galaxy Hops

Dual: Aroma and BitteringAlpha 11.6 - 16.0%Australia

Galaxy stands as one of the most culturally significant and commercially disruptive hop varieties of the modern craft brewing era, single-handedly redefining expectations for aromatic intensity. Developed in 1994 and introduced to the global market in 2009 by Hop Products Australia (HPA), this legendary dual-purpose cultivar was born at the Rostrevor Breeding Garden from a hybrid cross between a proprietary Australian female plant designated J78 (a descendant of Pride of Ringwood) and a robust German Perle male. While initially evaluated for its high alpha-acid bittering potential, its true calling was realized as the global craft beer explosion shifted toward massive hop aromatics. Cultivated in the pristine, nutrient-rich soils of Victoria and Tasmania, Galaxy's unmatched essential oil density has crowned it an elite, globally demanded luxury aromatic anchor that continues to shape the flavor profile of modern, juice-forward beers.

The profile of Galaxy delivers a textbook definition of pure, saturating tropical power, driven by one of the highest concentrations of essential oils in the commercial market. It unleashes a multi-layered wave of loud passionfruit, dripping sweet peach, and vibrant neon mango notes that dominate the senses. This intense tropical core is closely shadowed by a bright, sharp zest of citrus pith and deep, flesh-heavy nectarine undertones. Beneath this overt fruit-punch character lies a distinct, resinous depth that provides a necessary structural backbone, though its intense concentration means it must be handled with care during late additions to avoid shifting into a raw, green-grass vegetative bite. When timed correctly, this complex oil matrix wraps the palate in a velvety, hyper-dense blanket of sweet fruit candy aroma that elevates and texturizes the entire drinking experience.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Galaxy, the best alternatives are Amarillo®, Citra®, Mosaic®, or Simcoe®.

At A Glance

ProfileLoud Passion Fruit, Dripping Peach, Neon Mango, Sharp Citrus Pith
PurposeDual: Aroma and Bittering
Alpha Acid11.6 - 16.0%
SubstitutesAmarillo®, Citra®, Mosaic®, Simcoe®
Pairs withCitra® (to interweave a highly polished/clean lime-citrus and bright mango dimension over Galaxy's heavy passion fruit baseline), Mosaic® (to add complex/dark berry tones/sweet blueberry, Nelson Sauvin (to create an elite/all-Southern Hemisphere showcase of crushed white wine grapes and deep gooseberry layered directly over the sweet peach core), and a pleasant weedy/dank complexity that broadens the tropical profile)
Beer StylesNew England India Pale Ale, Juicy/Hazy Pale Ales, Imperial West Coast India Pale Ale, Double Hazy India Pale Ale, Saison

General Information

Country
Australia
Alias
J78
Storage Stability
Retains 35 - 40% alpha acid

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid
11.6 - 16.0%
Beta Acid
5.8 - 9.9%
Cohumulone
32.0 - 42.0%
Total Oil
2.4 - 5.0 ml/100g
Myrcene
32.0 - 56.0%
Humulene
0.8 - 2.2%
Caryophyllene
7.0 - 14.7%
Farnesene
2.0 - 5.1%
Linalool
0.5 - 1.0%
B-Pinene
0.3 - 0.9%
Geraniol
0.1%

Growth & Cultivation

Yield
1,800 - 2,400 lbs/acre
Maturity
Late Season
Resistant
Powdery Mildew (Excellent)
Tolerant
Shows good tolerance to common local soil-borne stresses.
Susceptible
No definitive agronomic data published regarding specific Australian viral tolerances/susceptibilities.
Growth Rate
Extremely High / Vigorous
Cones
Small to medium, round, light-green, and tightly wrapped with exceptionally dense lupulin loading.
Ease of Harvest
Good (Cones hold together reasonably well through high-speed automated picking tracks, though its im
Sex
Female
Leaf Color
Medium to Deep Green
Side Arm Length
20" - 36" (Moderate)

Galaxy Aroma/Flavor Profile

Aroma
Flavor
CitrusTropical FruitStone FruitApple/PearMelonBerryFloralSpicy/HerbalPineResinGrassEarthy/WoodyOnion/GarlicDank/Catty

Discovery Tags

Origin

Breeding/Supplier

Last Updated
  • 2026-05-20 18:43:19