The Bruce Hops: Profile & Substitutions

Description

The Bruce is a powerhouse aromatic blend born from the sun-drenched gardens of Freestyle Hops in New Zealand. This proprietary "mixtape" was crafted as a tribute to Bruce Eggers, a legendary Sunrise Valley hop farmer known for his immense knowledge and generous spirit. Rather than relying on a single plant, The Bruce is a meticulous combination of Nelson Sauvin™, early-season Motueka™, late-season Pacifica™, and mid-season Pacific Jade™.

By utilizing hops harvested at different points throughout the season, Freestyle Hops has created a blend that offers a more complete chemical profile than any single variety. It is specifically engineered to maximize free thiols and "survivable" oils—the compounds that survive the boil and thrive during fermentation. For brewers, it provides a consistent, high-impact "Best of NZ" experience that removes the year-to-year variability of single-farm cultivars.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find The Bruce, the best alternatives are Motueka™, Nelson Sauvin™, Riwaka™, or Tropadelic®.

At A Glance

Profile Passion Fruit, Mango, Citrus, Lemon, Gooseberry, Tropical Fruit, Orange Blossom, White Peach, Floral, Resinous, Dank
Purpose Aroma
Alpha Acid 9.0 - 11.0%
Substitutes Motueka™, Nelson Sauvin™, Riwaka™, Tropadelic®
Pairs with Citra® (to provide a classic American citrus backbone), Motueka™ (for more lime candy intensity), Nelson Sauvin™ (to double down on the white grape notes)
Beer Styles Hazy India Pale Ale, Northeast India Pale Ale, Pilsner, West Coast India Pale Ale

General Information

Country New Zealand
Storage Stability
Very good

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid 9.0 - 11.0%
Beta Acid 4.5 - 5.5%
Cohumulone 24.0 - 28.0%
Total Oil 1.5 - 2.0 ml/100g
Myrcene 40.0 - 50.0%
Humulene 12.0 - 18.0%
Caryophyllene 6.0 - 10.0%
Farnesene 1.0 - 3.0%

Growth & Cultivation

Yield High

Discovery Tags

Flavor/Aroma
Citrus Dank Floral Gooseberry Lemon Mango Orange Blossom Passion Fruit Resinous Tropical Fruit White Peach
Variety Name
Citra Motueka Nelson Sauvin Pacific Jade Pacifica Riwaka Tropadelic
Beer Style
Hazy India Pale Ale Northeast India Pale Ale Pilsner West Coast India Pale Ale
Usage
Aroma
Origin
New Zealand
Breeding/Supplier
Freestyle Hops
Last Updated
  • 2026-03-03 19:44:34
Source(s)

Hops Catalog

Navigating This Profile
  • The Stats: Use the Purpose and Alpha % to understand the hop's bitterness and aromatic strength.
  • Discovery Tags: Scroll down to find clickable tags for Flavor, Origin, and Usage.
  • The Network: Click any tag (like #Citrus or #New Zealand) to instantly view every other hop in our catalog that shares that trait.
Discovery Tag Spotlight

  • #Stone-Fruit (Orchard Vibe)

    Saturday is for smooth sipping. From fuzzy peach to ripe apricot, these hops add a soft, rounded sweetness to the aroma of Pale Ales and Sours. Explore #Stone-Fruit Hops!
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Did you know?
  • Dwarf variety hops grow shorter in height than traditional varieties but, importantly, produce the same yield. This combination makes harvest easier.
Explanations
  • Storage: is based on the percentage of alpha acids remaining after 6 months at 20*F.
  • Oil composition percetages are based on the total percentage of oil in the hop. Example: 10 - 20% means that for the specific oil it is 10 - 20% of the overall oil make up.