Hops Herkules is a variety created in 2005 by the Hop Institute in Germany by crossing Hallertau Tauros hops with an unknown male flower ecotype. Its distinguishing feature is its high alpha-acid content, which makes it ideal for imparting bitterness to beer.
In terms of aromatic profile, Herkules displays spicy, floral, and hoppy notes with hints of pine, black pepper, and melon. These characteristics make the variety versatile: it is suitable for both light ales (pale) and darker styles such as pilsner, bock, porter, stout, Indian pale ale, and strong ales.
The granulated form of the hops ensures compactness compared to whole-leaf varieties, which facilitates storage. Due to its structure, the granules retain valuable bitterness and aromatic properties for up to three years under the condition of hermetic vacuum packaging.
