Tettnang

True Noble Pedigree • Spicy-Floral Finesse • German Lager Essential

Tettnang is a classic German noble hop from the Tettnang region near Lake Constance, prized for centuries for its fine, spicy-floral aroma and exceptionally smooth bitterness. It is one of the four traditional noble varieties and remains a first-choice aroma hop for brewers who want authentic continental lager character.

With a modest alpha acid content of 4.5%, Tettnang delivers gentle, rounded bitterness even in full bittering charges, while its delicate oils shine brightest in late-boil additions where the spice and floral notes stay intact.

Flavor & Aroma Profile

• Fine peppery spice, the hallmark of noble hops
• Soft floral aroma
• Mild herbal, slightly grassy notes
• Subtle earthy undertone
• Clean, smooth bitterness

Small late additions add quiet complexity to crisp lagers, while heavier finishing charges build a distinctly spicy, floral nose that still respects a delicate malt profile.

Brewing Applications

Tettnang is a staple ingredient in many classic European styles, including:

• German Pilsner
• Munich Helles
• Hefeweizen and other German wheat beers
• Kölsch
• Belgian and French saison
• Altbier

It also makes a refined single-hop showcase in light lagers and works beautifully as the aroma half of a Magnum-bittered grist.

Usage Recommendations

For a 5 gallon batch, use 1–1.5 oz at 60 minutes for balanced bitterness, then 0.5–1 oz in the last 10–15 minutes or at flameout. Restrained additions yield a clean, quietly spicy lager; generous late hopping pushes the floral-herbal aroma to the front.

Tettnang pairs naturally with Saaz and Hallertau Mittelfrüh, and its spice plays especially well against the soft banana-clove profile of a classic Hefeweizen.

Specifications

• Alpha Acid: 4.5%
• Flavor Notes: Spicy, floral, herbal, noble
• Typical Use: Aroma, with smooth low-alpha bittering
• Common Additions: 60 min, 15 min, flameout
• Substitutes: Saaz, Hallertau Mittelfrüh, Spalt, Santiam
• Beer Styles: German Pilsner, Helles, Hefeweizen, Kölsch, saison

Whether you're crafting a snappy German Pilsner, rounding out a Kölsch, or adding old-world spice to a saison, Tettnang provides the noble finesse that defines classic European brewing.