Citra vs Mosaic: which hop to use
Data sheetThe two hops side by side on the numbers and aroma that decide it, and which to reach for.
Published hop data side by side
| Origin | Citra: United States · Mosaic: United States |
|---|---|
| Citra alpha acid | 11 to 14.3 % |
| Mosaic alpha acid | 10.4 to 14 % |
| Citra total oil | up to 2.8 mL/100 g |
| Mosaic total oil | up to 3 mL/100 g |
| Citra myrcene | 28.6 to 66 % |
| Mosaic myrcene | 24.5 to 56.7 % |
| Citra aroma | Grapefruit, sun-ripened mango and pineapple, with sharper gooseberry, blackberry and red-currant notes and a hint of lilac |
| Mosaic aroma | Tropical pineapple, mango and passion fruit, citrus tangerine and lime, with floral, grassy, herbal and pine undertones |
Notes
Both are very high-myrcene American tropical hops around 10 to 14% alpha, but Citra reads brighter grapefruit and Mosaic carries more dank pine and herbal depth.
Choose Citra for a clean, bright grapefruit-and-tropical aroma that most drinkers read as juicy.
Choose Mosaic when you want more complexity and a dank, resinous edge under the tropical fruit.
The hops in full
Sources: BarthHaas Citra hop variety profile · BarthHaas Mosaic hop variety profile