Tettnang

Floral and spicy with herbal and earthy notes.

Where It Lives

• Floral & Herbal (primary)
• Spicy & Earthy (secondary)

Storytime

Tettnang is a classic noble hop from the Tettnang region in southern Germany. It shares a lot of DNA with Hallertau Mittelfrüh, offering a refined floral, spicy, and herbal character with a light earthy quality. While it’s slightly less common than Hallertau, it’s still highly regarded for traditional German lagers and has a clean, balanced profile that brewers have trusted for generations.

Key Specs

• Alpha Acids: 3 – 5.5%
• Total Oil: 0.6 – 1.0 mL/100g
• Origin: Germany
• Form: Pellet
• Common Substitutions: Hallertau Mittelfrüh or Spalt (in some recipes)
• More tech specs here

Practical Use

Tettnang is primarily an aroma hop, though it can contribute some bitterness in lighter styles. It performs best in late boil and whirlpool additions, where it adds its signature floral, spicy, and herbal notes. Like other noble hops, it’s relatively delicate and shines most in traditional lager styles (German Pilsner, Helles, and Märzen/Oktoberfest) where its refined character isn’t overpowered.

Not usually used for dry hopping, but 1–2.5 oz total in 5 gallons is usually plenty. It doesn’t need heavy rates, and going too hard can make the herbal and earthy notes turn grassy or harsh. It tends to work best with a lighter touch.

Brew day tip: It’s a great choice for authentic German lagers, especially when you want a slightly different floral and spicy character than Hallertau. It can also add nice complexity to more modern lagers or sessionable beers.