Merkur Hops: Profile & Substitutions

Description

Merkur is a descendant of Magnum, making it a great bittering hop. The lower co-humulone level makes it an even smoother bitterness. Dual purpose as it also adds a nice aroma profile.

Merkur was developed at the Hop Research Institute in Hüll, Germany.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Merkur, the best alternatives are Herkules or Magnum.

At A Glance

Profile Earth, citrus, mint, pineapple and sugar-sweetness.
Purpose Dual: Aroma and Bittering
Alpha Acid 10.0 - 16.2%
Substitutes Herkules, Magnum
Beer Styles Lager, Pilsner, Stout

General Information

Country Germany
Alias Hallertau Merkur
Storage Stability
Retains 60% - 70% alpha acid contents after 6 months of storage at 68°F.

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid 10.0 - 16.2%
Beta Acid 3.5 - 7.3%
Cohumulone 17.8 - 22.0%
Total Oil 1.4 - 2.2 mg/100g
Myrcene 48.0 - 49.0%
Humulene 29.0 - 32.0%
Caryophyllene 8.0 - 9.0%
Farnesene < 1.0%

Growth & Cultivation

Yield 1570 - 1730 lbs/acre
Maturity Late
Resistant Verticillium wilt, powdery mildew
Tolerant Downy mildew
Susceptible Aphid
Growth Rate Moderate
Cones Medium size with moderate density
Ease of Harvest Difficult

Merkur Aroma/Flavor Profile

Discovery Tags

Flavor/Aroma
Citrus Citrus Earth Mint Pineapple
Variety Name
Hallertau Merkur Herkules Magnum
Beer Style
Lagers Pilsner Stout
Usage
Dual: Aroma And Bittering
Origin
Germany
Breeding/Supplier
Hop Research Institute
Last Updated
  • 2020-11-22 12:41:56
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

  • #Tropical-Fruit (Vacation in a Glass)

    Mid-week escape. Looking for massive notes of mango, pineapple, or passionfruit? These hops are the stars of hazy pales and juicy NEIPAs. Explore #Tropical-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.