Hop Profiles

The following hop profiles describe the region grown, flavors and aromas, common usage, Alpha-Acid (AA) range, and suggest similar varieties for substitutions.

Bittering Hop Varieties

Apollo

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Sharp, clean bittering, with grapefruit notes when used as late addition or dry-hopping

Usage:   Bittering

AA Range:   15%-20%

Substitutes:   Columbus, Nugget, Magnum

 

Brewer's Gold

Grown:   United Kingdom, United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Sharp, clean bittering, with notes of black currant, fruity, spicy aroma.

Usage:   Bittering

AA Range:   8%-10%

Substitutes:   Cascade, Galena, Northern Brewer

 

Chinook

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Versatile bittering, heavy spicy/piney aroma, cloying in large quantities

Usage:   Bittering

AA Range:   8%-10%

Substitutes:   Brewer's Gold, Nugget, Target

 

Galena

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Strong, clean bittering, citrusy aroma

Usage:   General purpose bittering

AA Range:   12%-14%

Substitutes:   Cluster, Nugget, Northern Brewer

 

Magnum

Grown:   United States, Germany

Aroma/Flavor:   Clean bittering

Usage:   General purpose bittering, light citrus flavor

AA Range:   12%-14%

Substitutes:   Galena, Northdown, Northern Brewer

 

Nugget

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Strong bittering, heavy spicy, herbal aroma

Usage:   Strong bittering, some aroma use

AA Range:   12%-14%

Substitutes:   Galena, Magnum, Columbus

 

Pacific Gem

Grown:   New Zealand

Aroma/Flavor:   Strong bittering, yet smooth and oak-like with notes of blackberry

Usage:   Strong bittering, and good for late additions for flavor and aroma

AA Range:   13%-16%

Substitutes:   Fuggle, Willamette, Styrian Goldings

 

Simcoe

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Strong bittering, citrus flavors with earthy undertones, fresh pine aroma

Usage:   Bittering and aroma

AA Range:   12%-14%

Substitutes:   Summit

 

Summit

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Strong bittering, citrus aroma

Usage:   Strong bittering

AA Range:   16%-18%

Substitutes:   Apollo, Columbus, Simcoe

 

Warrior

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Strong, clean bittering, mild aroma

Usage:   Strong bittering

AA Range:   16%-18%

Substitutes:   Columbus, Nugget

 

Dual-Purpose Hop Varieties

Amarillo

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   floral and citrus, similar to Cascade

Usage:   Bittering and aroma

AA Range:   8%-11%

Substitutes:   Cascade, Centennial

 

Centennial

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Clean bittering, similar to Cascade

Usage:   Bittering and aroma, some dry-hopping

AA Range:   9%-12%

Substitutes:   Cascade, Columbus

 

Citra

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Citric-like bitterness, citrus, grapefruit, lime, tropical fruits

Usage:   Bittering and aroma

AA Range:   10%-15%

Substitutes:   Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe

 

Cluster

Grown:   Australia

Aroma/Flavor:   Strongly resinous, herbal character

Usage:   Bittering and aroma

AA Range:   5.5%-8.5%

Substitutes:   Galena, Northern Brewer

 

Columbus

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Solid, clean bittering, strong herbal flavor and aroma

Usage:   Good bittering and aroma, often dry-hopped

AA Range:   13%-16%

Substitutes:   Centennial, Nugget, Target

 

Equinox

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Clean bittering, citrus, tropical fruit, floral and herbal characteristics

Usage:   Good bittering and aroma

AA Range:   13%-16%

Substitutes:   Citra

 

Northdown

Grown:   United Kingdom

Aroma/Flavor:   Clean bittering, fresh, flowery, piney, berry and spice

Usage:   Good bittering and aroma

AA Range:   7%-9%

Substitutes:   Northern Brewer, Target

 

Northern Brewer

Grown:   United Kingdom, United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Clean bittering, resinous, woody, piney and minty essence

Usage:   Good bittering and aroma

AA Range:   7%-10%

Substitutes:   Northdown, Perle, Target

 

Palisade

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Clean bittering, flavors of nectar fruits and citrus, aromas that are floral and herbal

Usage:   Good bittering and aroma

AA Range:   5.5%-9.5%

Substitutes:   Chinook, Styrian Goldings, Willamette

 

Target

Grown:   United Kingdom

Aroma/Flavor:   Clean bittering, strong floral and herbal aroma

Usage:   Good bittering, flavor, and aroma

AA Range:   8%-10%

Substitutes:   Fuggle, Northdown, Willamette

 

Aroma Hop and Flavoring Hop Varieties

Cascade

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Clean bittering, strong spicy, floral, citrus aroma

Usage:   Good bittering, flavor, and aroma, often used for dry-hopping

AA Range:   4%-8%

Substitutes:   Amarillo, Centennial, Columbus

 

East Kent Goldings

Grown:   United Kingdom

Aroma/Flavor:   Clean bittering, mild spicy, floral, earthy aroma

Usage:   Good bittering, flavor, and aroma, often used for dry-hopping

AA Range:   4.5%-7%

Substitutes:   Fuggle

 

Fuggle

Grown:   United Kingdom

Aroma/Flavor:   Clean bittering, mild soft, grassy, floral aroma

Usage:   Good bittering, flavor, and aroma, often used for finishing or dry-hopping

AA Range:   3.5%-5.5%

Substitutes:   East Kent Goldings, Styrian Goldings, Willamette

 

Hallertau

Grown:   Germany

Aroma/Flavor:   Low bittering, spicy, mild, noble, earthy aroma

Usage:   Good finishing for German style brews

AA Range:   3%-5.5%

Substitutes:   Mt Hood

 

Mosaic

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Fruity, mango, stone fruit, citrus, herbal, tropical, pine, spice

Usage:   Clean bittering, flavor, and aroma, dry-hopping

AA Range:   10.5%-14%

Substitutes:   Simcoe, Citra, Nugget

 

Mt Hood

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Some bittering, mild, clean aroma, similar to Hallertauer

Usage:   Good finishing for German style brews, and general aroma additions

AA Range:   3.5%-8%

Substitutes:   Hallertau, Tettnang

 

Perle

Grown:   Germany, United States

Aroma/Flavor:   Some bittering, pleasant aroma, slightly spicy, minty

Usage:   General purpose bittering and finishing

AA Range:   7%-9.5%

Substitutes:   Cluster, Northern Brewer, Tettnang

 

Saaz

Grown:   Czech Republic

Aroma/Flavor:   delicate, mild, floral aroma

Usage:   Aroma, flavoring, finishing

AA Range:   2%-5%

Substitutes:   Tettnang

 

Styrian Goldings

Grown:   Yugoslavia, United States

Aroma/Flavor:   mild, floral, earthy, similar to Fuggle

Usage:   Aroma, flavoring, finishing, dry-hopping

AA Range:   4.5%-7%

Substitutes:   Fuggle, Willamette

 

Tettnang

Grown:   Germany

Aroma/Flavor:   mild, fine spicy aroma

Usage:   Aroma, flavoring, finishing, especially for German style beers

AA Range:   3%-6%

Substitutes:   Saaz

 

Willamette

Grown:   United States

Aroma/Flavor:   mild, spicy, grassy, floral aroma

Usage:   Aroma, flavoring, finishing, dry-hopping for American and British style ales

AA Range:   4%-7%

Substitutes:   Fuggle