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
  • 2026-05-21 00:43:19