Sabro
Sabro is one of the most unusual hops in commercial brewing — a variety whose coconut, tangerine, and tropical fruit character is so distinctive it is almost impossible to mistake. Released in 2018, it expanded the flavor vocabulary of the modern IPA.
#Variety Statistics
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Alpha acid | ~12–16% |
| Origin | USA (New Mexico / Yakima) |
| Year released | 2018 |
| Breeding | Hop Breeding Company (HBC 438); descended in part from a neomexicanus wild American hop lineage |
| Key oils | Distinctive oil profile rich in coconut-associated compounds |
| Flavor descriptors | Coconut, tangerine, stone fruit, cedar, mint, tropical fruit |
| Typical styles | New England IPA, Milkshake IPA, Double IPA, specialty IPA |
#Character
Sabro's headline note is coconut — creamy, almost piña-colada-like — wrapped around tangerine citrus, stone fruit, and a faint cedar and mint herbal edge. Part of its uniqueness comes from its ancestry: Sabro draws on Humulus lupulus var. neomexicanus, a wild American hop lineage distinct from the European-derived gene pool behind most varieties.
Sabro's coconut-cream character pairs intuitively with the lactose and vanilla of a Milkshake IPA, and adds a tropical "dessert" dimension to fruited hazy beers.
#Use in IPA
Sabro is potent and best used late and in moderation. As a headline hop it can dominate; as an accent — a small fraction of the dry hop — it adds an exotic coconut-tropical lift to a blend. It is available as pellets and Cryo.
Heavy-handed Sabro can tip into a soapy, perfumey, or aggressively coconut-suntan-lotion character that many drinkers dislike. Restraint and blending are key — pair it with cleaner hops like Citra to keep it balanced.
#Continue Reading
- Strata — another distinctive modern variety
- Milkshake IPA — a natural home for Sabro
- Hop Variety Index — Sabro in context
- Modern IPA Diversification — the era that embraced exotic hops