Introducing the terpene of the week: Limonene.
Over the coming weeks, we’re delving into the major terpenes found in beer. These kiddos give all the beautiful hop flavours we seek so much. Limonene delivers a powerful citrus character and is highly expressed in the zest of citrus fruits, especially oranges.
Limonene is the oxidative product of a monoterpene. It is found in a wide range of citrus plants and promotes positive health outcomes like reducing anxiety and acting as an antioxidant.
In hops, limonene is unsurprisingly associated with punchy citrus based hops, like Citra, Simcoe, Centennial and a million others. As an oxidative terpene it is a little more stable than the likes of myrcene or humulene, although it could be better expressed in the final beer when added to the boil, rather than as a dry hop.
Today was a busy day.
