Last updated:
Lemondrop is one of those hop varieties that does exactly what the name suggests, and I say that as someone who’s skeptical of varieties with obvious flavor-descriptor names. I first used it in a wheat beer where I wanted lemon without adding actual lemon zest or juice, and the hop delivered a clean, bright lemon character that integrated into the beer’s hop bill without the acidic sharpness that actual lemon would introduce. The mint undertone is real and subtle, it reinforces the clean, fresh impression rather than making the beer taste like toothpaste. Lemondrop is produced by Hop Breeding Company and has moderate availability in US homebrew markets.
Lemondrop hop flavor profile
Lemondrop hops have a moderate alpha acid content (5–7% AA) with a distinctive aroma: lemon (primary, fresh lemon zest rather than lemon candy), mild mint, and a clean, slightly herbal background. The lemon character is more specific and citrus-forward than general “citrus” hops, it reads as actual lemon rather than grapefruit or orange, which makes it useful in styles where lemon specifically is the target flavor direction. The mint is subtle and fresh rather than medicinal. Used as a dry hop or late addition in wheat beers, session pale ales, Berliner Weisse, and any beer where lemon-bright hop character enhances the style without adding lemon’s acidity.
Best substitutes
Sorachi Ace (closest lemon-mint match): The classic lemon-dill-mint hop, shares Lemondrop’s lemon character and the herbal dimension, though dill is more prominent than mint. Use 1:1. Hallertau Blanc (lemon-citrus direction): German variety with wine-like and lemon-citrus character. Less specific than Lemondrop’s lemon but works in the same styles. Use 1:1. Motueka (NZ, lime-lemon): New Zealand variety with lime and lemon citrus, adjacent to Lemondrop’s lemon direction. Use 1:1. Wai-iti (NZ, delicate citrus): Lime and mandarin with delicacy similar to Lemondrop’s soft lemon character. Use 1:1. Lemon zest addition (non-hop substitute): For recipes where Lemondrop is the sole source of lemon character, adding fresh lemon zest in secondary (5–10g per liter for 2–3 days) replicates the lemon direction more accurately than any single hop substitute, though it adds slight acidity and bitterness from the pith if over-used.
Styles where Lemondrop excels
Lemondrop’s specific lemon character is most valuable in: Berliner Weisse (where lemon complements the lactic tartness without adding more acid), wheat beers (lemon and wheat grain are a natural pairing), session IPAs where bright citrus is wanted at lower alcohol, and summer saisons where the lemon-mint combination pairs with Belgian yeast esters. In any of these styles, Sorachi Ace at 1:1 is the most accurate substitute that stays in the same lemon-mint-herbal direction.
Common Questions
How does Lemondrop compare to Sorachi Ace?
Lemondrop and Sorachi Ace both deliver lemon as their primary character, but the supporting notes differ in ways that matter for some recipes. Sorachi Ace has a prominent dill note that’s polarizing, homebrewers either love it for the complexity it adds or find it off-putting in styles where dill is unexpected. Lemondrop’s supporting note is mint rather than dill, cleaner, fresher, and more broadly appealing in styles where herbal character is acceptable. In a wheat beer: Lemondrop produces a beer that tastes like fresh lemon; Sorachi Ace produces a beer that tastes like lemon-dill, which is more distinctive but might not be what the recipe intends. In a Berliner Weisse or Gose: Sorachi Ace’s dill note pairs interestingly with salt additions; Lemondrop’s mint note keeps the beer in clean citrus territory. For brewers who like Sorachi Ace’s dill: it’s not a substitute problem, it’s a feature. For brewers who want lemon without dill: Lemondrop is the better choice and Sorachi Ace at 1:1 is an acceptable but noticeably different substitute.
