Monroe Hops

Monroe is a captivating and glamorous addition to the world of German aroma hops. Released in 2017 by BarthHaas (Hopfenveredlung St. Johann), this variety was derived from a wild American hop found growing in Germany. It is named in honor of Marilyn Monroe—a tribute to its strikingly unique botanical habit where the cones take on a reddish tint at peak maturity, much like her iconic red dress. For the modern brewer, Monroe offers a "natural star" alternative to high-alpha tropical varieties, providing a soft, fruit-forward complexity designed to highlight delicate berry nuances without overwhelming the beer’s structural balance.

The sensory profile of Monroe is a sophisticated and whimsical arrangement of summer berries and soft floral sweetness. Depending on when it is added to the kettle or fermenter, it leads with a primary, "red-harvest" bouquet of fresh raspberries, red currants, and strawberries, followed by a secondary layer of plum, passionfruit, and orange blossoms. As the profile develops, brewers will find a pleasant creamy sweetness—reminiscent of vanilla or fruit candy—and a subtle herbal undertone that remains exceptionally clean on the palate. Thanks to its low alpha acid content and gentle oil composition, Monroe delivers a soft, unobtrusive bitterness and a crisp, fruit-saturated finish.