Galaxy hops are known among IPA lovers for their overflowing citrus, peach and passionfruit flavors. Tropical island aromas dominate the nose, lifting you away to a far off destination of flavor, like the coast of Australia, where these hops are grown since the mid-1990s, but released commercially in 2009. This Aussie-native hops hail from a lineage of male European cultivars — particularly Perle —bred with local Australian high alpha varieties. Galaxy hops are versatile; they can accent and compliment, or take center stage as the primary flavor. Their high alpha acid content make them especially suited to aroma hopping and the distinctive mixture of citrus, passionfruit, peach and hints of grass is sure to stand out. But don’t take our word for it, explore the Galaxy for yourself with our beer flight Craft Beer Crosscut 3.29.17: A Flight of Galaxy.
Crux Cast Out India Pale Ale
7.6% ABV, 60 IBU
Crux Fermentation Project’s Cast Out IPA features the Galaxy hop from Australia, a country famously populated by England’s cast out convicts. Cast Out IPA employs these hops aggressively from hop back to dry hopping stages. Yet the result is a balanced and bronzy ale, with medium hop bitterness complemented by moderate maltiness, showcasing aromas and flavors reminiscent of passionfruit.
GoodLife Descender IPA
7% ABV, 70 IBU
GoodLife Brewing Co. brews its Descender IPA with a “hopbursting” process that allows for the hop flavor to be delicately sprinkled throughout the boil, extracting bitterness. Brewed with Centennial, Chinook, Cascade, Galaxy and Warrior hops, this delicious IPA hits the bitter hard then mellows into a lemony-malty backdrop.
The Hop Concept Galaxy & Comet
8% ABV, 72 IBU
California’s Port/Lost Abbey launched a new line extension in 2015 dubbed, The Hop Concept. The Hop Freshener series featured some of the THC’s first beers, focusing on how hops change IPAs. The Hop Concept India pale ales focus on the dry-hopping process, focusing on how the brewing technique changes smell and aroma. In this case, Galaxy and Comet hops. Galaxy and Comet IPA, releasing for only the second time with a tweak in the recipe, continues The Hop Concept’s exploration into partnering select hops together. The Galaxy hop is front and center, lending notes of passionfruit, citrus and peach. The Comet hops packs a wildly bitter punch with a blend of grapefruit, lemon and orange flavors.
Laurelwood Workhorse IPA
7.5% ABV, 80 IBU
Three cheers to Laurelwood Brewing Co.’s head brewer Cameron Murphy! He is keeping Workhorse IPA’s momentum going after Vasilios Gletsos brilliantly rebuilt the Workhorse recipe in the throes of a hop shortage before moving on to Vermont’s vaunted Hill Farmstead. This IPA has a perfect alchemy of hops — roughly 40 percent juicy Galaxy, 50 percent Citra and a smattering of El Dorado and Simcoe — complemented by a nice, vaguely biscuity dry body.
Stone Enjoy By 4.20.17
9.4% ABV, 90 IBU
Stone launched the “fresh” series back in 2012 with this imperial India pale ale. The beer is packaged and shipped within 24 hours, and meant to be consumed by the date on the bottle, which is less than 40 days. Since then, a new definition of fresh IPA has been born. This intense double IPA is brewed with more than 10 different hops, including Galaxy, Citra, Cascade and Amarillo. Stone hop-bursts and dry-hops the beer to amp up its peach and tropical fruit notes. Devastatingly dank and golden.
