Origins and Breeding
Citra was developed by the Hop Breeding Company — a joint venture between John I. Haas and Select Botanicals Group — and released commercially in 2008. It is a proprietary variety, meaning it can only be grown under licence, which contributes to periodic supply shortages during the height of IPA season.
Its parentage includes Hallertau Mittelfrüh, US Tettnang, Brewer's Gold and East Kent Golding among others, but Citra's flavour profile diverges dramatically from these old-world parents.
Flavour and Aroma Profile
Citra's signature is an intense burst of tropical and citrus fruit: mango, passionfruit, lychee, guava, lime and grapefruit dominate the aroma. At lower rates you get a clean citrus note; at higher dry-hop rates the tropical fruits push forward with a luscious, almost juicy quality.
Alpha acids sit at 11–13 %, making it a capable bittering hop as well, though most brewers use it for aroma and dry-hopping. Total oil content is high at 2.2–2.8 ml/100g, which explains its outsized impact even at modest additions.
Best Beer Styles
Citra is most at home in American IPAs, hazy New England IPAs and pale ales where the fruit character can shine. It pairs brilliantly with other American varieties — Mosaic, Simcoe and Galaxy are classic co-stars. Single-hop Citra beers are popular for showcasing the variety in isolation.
It also works well in session IPAs and wheat beers where a lower ABV allows the aroma to dominate. Some sour beer producers use Citra in kettle sours to complement the lactic tartness with tropical fruit.
Brewing Tips
Citra performs best as a late addition — whirlpool or dry-hop. Because its oils are highly volatile, extended boil additions sacrifice much of the character. For NEIPAs, a dual dry-hop approach (one at the end of fermentation, one a few days before packaging) extracts the most aroma.
Water chemistry matters with Citra: a lower sulphate-to-chloride ratio (chloride-forward) softens the bitterness and accentuates the juicy, tropical quality. Aim for chloride above 100 ppm for the fullest expression.
Iconic Citra Beers to Try
If you want to understand what Citra tastes like, seek out beers where it is the hero: Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin (US), Mikkeller Single Hop Citra (Denmark) or any fresh NEIPA from your local craft brewery that prominently features it on the label. Freshness is critical — Citra beers are best consumed within 90 days of packaging.