Nelson Sauvin T90 Hop Pellets – New Zealand Hops

Nelson Sauvin T90 Hop Pellets – New Zealand Hops

Nelson Sauvin T90 hop pellets are one of New Zealand's most distinctive and sought-after hop varieties, famous for their unusual combination of white grape, gooseberry, passionfruit, citrus and tropical fruit character.

Developed in New Zealand and released commercially in 2000, Nelson Sauvin quickly established itself as a favourite with brewers looking for something different from the traditional citrus and resin profiles of American hops.

The name itself is a nod to the hop's distinctive white-wine-like character, which can produce flavours and aromas reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc alongside tropical fruit and citrus.

Nelson Sauvin is particularly well suited to IPA, Pale Ale, NEIPA, Hazy IPA, Double IPA and modern hop-forward beers. It can be used for bitterness, but its unique character is best preserved through late kettle additions, whirlpool hopping and dry hopping.

If you enjoy hops with white grape, gooseberry, passionfruit and tropical fruit character, Nelson Sauvin is a hop that deserves a place in your homebrew fridge.

Nelson Sauvin Hop Flavour & Aroma

Nelson Sauvin is famous for having one of the most recognisable flavour profiles in modern brewing.

Depending on how it is used, you can expect a combination of:

• White grape
• Gooseberry
• Passionfruit
• Tropical fruit
• Grapefruit and citrus
• Stone fruit
• Light herbal and earthy notes

The white grape and gooseberry character is what really separates Nelson Sauvin from other modern hop varieties. It can give beer an almost wine-like fruitiness, particularly when used generously in late additions or the dry hop.

Used alongside tropical varieties such as Citra, Mosaic or Nectaron, Nelson Sauvin can add another layer of complexity rather than simply increasing the intensity of the same fruit flavours.

How to Use Nelson Sauvin T90 Hop Pellets

Nelson Sauvin T90 pellets are incredibly versatile and can be used for bittering, flavour and aroma.

However, if you are buying Nelson Sauvin specifically for its distinctive character, it makes sense to reserve a good proportion of the hop for later in the brewing process.

Whirlpool / Hop Stand

Adding Nelson Sauvin to the whirlpool or hop stand is an excellent way of extracting its distinctive grape, gooseberry, passionfruit and citrus character while keeping the bitterness contribution relatively controlled.

A whirlpool addition can work particularly well in Pale Ales, IPAs and NEIPAs, giving the finished beer plenty of hop flavour without relying entirely on dry hopping.

For a modern New Zealand-style Pale Ale, a generous whirlpool addition of Nelson Sauvin can produce a wonderfully expressive combination of tropical fruit, citrus and white-grape character.

Dry Hopping

Nelson Sauvin is an excellent dry-hopping hop, and this is one of the best ways to showcase its unique aroma.

Adding Nelson Sauvin T90 pellets during or after fermentation can produce intense aromas of white grape, gooseberry, passionfruit and tropical fruit, with a distinctive wine-like quality that is difficult to replicate with other hop varieties.

Try Nelson Sauvin on its own for a single-hop Pale Ale or IPA, or combine it with other varieties to create a more complex hop profile.

Nelson Sauvin works particularly well alongside Nectaron, Citra, Mosaic, Motueka and Simcoe.

Pairing Nelson Sauvin with Nectaron, for example, can combine Nelson's white-grape and gooseberry character with Nectaron's pineapple, passionfruit and peach.

Late Kettle Additions

Late kettle additions of Nelson Sauvin can provide flavour, aroma and some bitterness.

Adding Nelson Sauvin during the final 5–15 minutes of the boil can bring out its grape, gooseberry, citrus and tropical fruit character.

For a modern Pale Ale or IPA, a combination of a small late-kettle addition followed by a generous whirlpool addition can create a good balance between hop flavour and aroma.

If maximum aroma is your goal, reserve some Nelson Sauvin for the dry hop as well.

Nelson Sauvin Hop Specifications

Our Nelson Sauvin T90 hop pellets are from the 2023 crop.

• Hop variety: Nelson Sauvin
• Crop: 2023
• Origin: New Zealand
• Type: T90 hop pellets
• Alpha Acid: 11.4%
• Use: Bittering, flavour and aroma
• Best uses: Late kettle additions, whirlpool and dry hopping
• Flavour: White grape, gooseberry, passionfruit, citrus and tropical fruit
• Ideal beer styles: IPA, Pale Ale, NEIPA, Hazy IPA, Double IPA, New Zealand IPA and modern hop-forward beers.

Brewing with Nelson Sauvin Hops

Nelson Sauvin is one of those hops that can completely change the character of a beer depending on how it is used.

Want to brew a single-hop Nelson Sauvin Pale Ale? Absolutely.

Want a New Zealand IPA packed with white grape, gooseberry and tropical fruit? Nelson Sauvin is one of the classic choices.

Want to create a modern IPA using several varieties? Nelson Sauvin can add something genuinely different to the hop blend.

For maximum aroma, try using Nelson Sauvin in the whirlpool and dry hop, allowing its distinctive grape and tropical character to remain at the centre of the beer.

Nelson Sauvin also works particularly well with other New Zealand varieties. Combine it with Nectaron for layers of white grape, gooseberry, pineapple and passionfruit, or pair it with Motueka for a more citrus-forward New Zealand hop profile.

For something completely different, try combining Nelson Sauvin with Citra. Citra brings big grapefruit and tropical fruit while Nelson adds its distinctive white-grape and gooseberry character.

Nelson Sauvin – The New Zealand Hop with a Wine-Like Character

Nelson Sauvin has earned a reputation as one of the world's most distinctive modern hop varieties.

While many modern hops focus heavily on citrus, tropical fruit or resin, Nelson Sauvin brings something different to the glass.

Its combination of white grape, gooseberry, passionfruit and citrus can give beer a surprisingly wine-like character, particularly when used heavily in late additions and dry hopping.

This makes Nelson Sauvin particularly interesting for home brewers who want to experiment beyond the usual American hop combinations.

It can be the star of a single-hop beer, form the backbone of a New Zealand IPA or add a distinctive layer of complexity to a modern hop blend.

Buy Nelson Sauvin T90 Hop Pellets from Grain Over Sands

Whether you're brewing a New Zealand IPA, juicy NEIPA, modern Pale Ale or experimenting with a single-hop beer, Nelson Sauvin T90 hop pellets are an excellent choice for distinctive New Zealand hop character.

Our 2023 Nelson Sauvin hops are ideal for late kettle additions, whirlpool hopping and dry hopping, where the unique combination of white grape, gooseberry, passionfruit and citrus can really shine.

White grape. Gooseberry. Passionfruit. Citrus. Nelson Sauvin is one of those hops you can taste once and never forget.