Southern Sublime – 1kg T90 (ZA)

Southern Sublime

Developed by South African Breweries (SAB) in the Western Cape, Southern Sublime is a modern variety bred specifically to deliver the bold, “dank,” and saturated fruit profiles demanded by the contemporary craft market. It is often described as the “bigger, punchier sibling” to other South African varieties. Its aromatic profile is dominated by a heavy tropical fruit sweetness—specifically ripe guava and mango—which is uniquely layered with dark fruit notes of plum and sweet berries. Unlike the more delicate Southern Dawn, Southern Sublime has a thicker, more resinous quality that provides a “greasy” hop saturation in dry-hopped beers. It is a defining hop for brewers looking to capture a distinct Southern Hemisphere “fruit-punch” character with a bold, resinous edge.

Key Benefits

1. Massive Tropical Impact: Unrivaled for delivering a saturated guava and mango character.
2. Unique Dark Fruit Layer: Provides plum and berry notes that add a rare depth to tropical hop blends.
3. Excellent “Survivability”: Its oils are highly resistant to being lost during fermentation, making it an elite choice for active-fermentation dry hopping.
4. Bold Saturated Flavor: Delivers the “thick” hop mouthfeel and aromatic density required for top-tier hazy styles.

Applications

1. Brewing: The “gold standard” for NEIPAs, West Coast IPAs, Fruit Beers, and modern “New World” Sours.
2. Distilling: A premium botanical for contemporary gins seeking a dense tropical-fruit top note with a dark fruit finish.
3. Cider Making: Adds a refreshing, “sunny” tropical complexity that pairs naturally with the sweetness of apple or pear bases.
4. Winemaking: Ideal for botanical infusions in aromatic white vermouths or summer aperitifs requiring a bold, fruity lift.

Typical Usage

1. Aroma/Flavour: Traditionally added during the final 10–0 minutes of the boil or in the whirlpool to maximize its dense tropical oils.
2. Dry Hopping: 5–15g per litre. It is powerful enough to carry a beer as a single-hop variety but blends beautifully with Citra®, Mosaic®, or its cousin, Southern Passion.
3. Bittering: While efficient for early boil additions due to high alpha acids, its premium aromatic profile is almost always reserved for late-stage additions.

Technical Data

1. Alpha Acids: 11.5% – 14.5%
2. Beta Acids: 4.5% – 6.0%
3. Total Oil: 1.0 – 1.6 ml/100g (Highly concentrated specific tropical oils)
4. Co-Humulone: 20% – 25% of alpha acids (Low)
5. Myrcene: 25% – 40% of total oil

Storage and Handling

Store in cold, dry conditions at temperatures between -1°C and 5°C. Southern Sublime has good storage stability, but its specific “dank” tropical and plum esters are sensitive to oxidation. To protect its signature “Sublime” profile, always keep in original vacuum-sealed, oxygen-barrier packaging.

Summary

The “tropical heavy-hitter” of South Africa; Southern Sublime provides an unrivaled, saturated profile of guava, mango, and plum, offering a bold and unique dimension to the most expressive modern craft beverages.