Hops Table
Name Type Origin Alpha Beta Storage Substitute
|
Bullion |
bittering |
domestic |
6.5-9 |
3.2-4.7 |
40-50% |
northern brewer, galena |
|
One of the earliest high alpha hops in the world. Raised in 1919 in England from a wild Manitoban female crossed with an English male hop. Aroma: Intense,black currant aroma,spicy and pungent. Used For: Mainly bittering. Stouts and Dark Ales. |
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|
Cascade |
finishing |
domestic |
4.5-7 |
4.5-7.2 |
48-52% |
centennial |
|
Derived from a cross between Fuggles and the Russian hop Serebrianker. Aroma: Pleasant, flowery and spicy, citrus-like. Used For: Good for flavor and aroma, but an acceptable bittering hop. Ales and lagers. |
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| Centennial | bittering | domestic | 9.5-11.5 | 3.5-4.5 | 60-65% | cascade |
|
Newer variety still under experimentation. Cross between Brewer's Gold and a selected USDA male. Aroma: Medium with floral and citrus tones. Used For: Aromatic but acceptable for bittering. Medium to Dark American Ales. |
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| Challenger | all-purpose | UK | 7-10% | 4-4.5% | 70-85% | undetermined |
|
One of the few recognized all-purpose hops combining moderate amounts of alpha acid with a good kettle aroma. Aroma: Mild to moderate, quite spicy. Used For: Popular bittering hop used primarily in the U.K. British Ales and Lagers. |
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| Chinook | bittering | domestic | 12-14% | 3-4% | 65-70% | galena, cluster, nugget |
|
Cross between Petham Golding and USDA Select Male. Released in 1985 and becoming popular. Aroma: Mild to medium-heavy, spicy, distinct piney aroma. Used For: Strong bittering ability. All American Lagers and Ales. |
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| Cluster | all-purpose | domestic | 5.5-8.5% | 4.5-5.5% | 80-85% | galena, chinook |
|
Excellent general purpose hop with medium and well-balanced bittering potential and no undesirable aroma properties. Good for Dark beers. Aroma: Floral. Used For: Bittering with good flavor. Light and Dark American |
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| Columbus | all-purpose | domestic | 14-16% | 4.5-5.5% | eval | undetermined |
|
Relatively new variety becoming increasingly accepted. Aroma: Pleasant. Used For: Bittering mainly, good flavor. |
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| Crystal | finishing | domestic | 2-4.5% | 4.5-6.5% | 50% | liberty, mt hood, german hallertau |
|
Known as a triploid, three hops contributing characteristics: Cascade, Brewer's Gold and Early Green. Aroma: Mild and pleasant Used For: Aroma. |
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| Eroica | all-purpose | domestic | 11-13% | 4-5.5% | 55-65% | chinook, cluster, galena, nugget |
|
Bred by open pollination of Brewer's Gold. Poor Storage ability. Better aroma than many high alpha acid hops. Suitable for general bittering. Aroma: Quite strong but not unpleasant. Used For: Bittering and good aroma for high alpha hops. (Use sparingly). Pale Ales, Dark Ales and Stouts. |
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| Fuggle | finishing | domestic | 4-5.5% | 1.5-2% | 60-65% | willamette, E. K. goldings, s goldings |
|
Traditional aroma hop, appeared in 1875 England. Also known overseas as Styrian Golding. Aroma: Mild and pleasant, spicy, soft, woody. Used For: Finishing, dry hopping. English Ales, Especially Pale Ales, Porters and Stouts. |
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| Galena | bittering | domestic | 12-14% | 7-9% | 75-80% | nugget, cluster, chinook |
|
Bred from a Brewer's Gold by open pollination. Excellent high alpha acid hop with balanced bittering profiles paired with acceptable hop aroma. Aroma: Medium but pleasant hoppiness. Used For: Very bitter, but blends well with finishing hops. American Ales and Lagers. Suitable for all beer styles. |
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| Hallertau | finishing | domestic | 4-6% | 3.5-4.5% | 45% | mt. hood, liberty, crystal |
|
This U.S. version of the German Hallertau (below). Aroma: Mild, pleasant and slightly flowery. Used For: Good all-around bittering and finishing. Stock ales,Altbiers, Belgian Ales and Continental Style Lagers. |
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| Hallertau | finishing | Germany | 3.5-5.5% | 3-4% | 50-60% | mt. hood, liberty, crystal |
|
Traditionally a superior German aroma hop. Excellent flavor. Aroma: Mild to semi-strong, the most popular aroma variety. Used For: Versatile bittering and finishing. Wheats, Altbiers, Pilsners, Belgian Ales, American and German Lagers. |
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| Kent Goldings | finishing | UK | 4-5.5% | 2-3.5% | 65-80% | goldings (BC), fuggle, willamette |
|
Traditional Old English hop. Referred to as East Kent Goldings if grown in East Kent. Kent Goldings if grown in Mid-Kent. Goldings if grown elsewhere. Aroma: Gentle, Fragrant and pleasant. Used For: Classic English ales, kettle hopping, dry hopping, spicy flavor. Pale Ales, Bitters, Porters and Stouts. |
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| Liberty | finishing | domestic | 3-5% | 3-4% | 35-55% | German Hallertau, Mt. Hood Crystal |
|
Released in 1991, aroma variety with close similarities to imported German aroma varieties. Aroma: Mild and pleasant, quite fine. Used For: Finishing. American and German Ales and Lagers. |
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| Mt. Hood | finishing | domestic | 5-8% | 5-7.5% | 50-60% | German Hallertau, Liberty, Crystal |
|
Aroma variety with similarities to the German Hallertau and Hersbrucker varieties, released in the U.S. in 1989. Aroma: Mild, pleasant, clean, light and delicate Used For: Aroma and flavor, American and German Ales and Lagers. |
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| Northern Brewer | all-purpose | domestic | 8-10% | 3-5% | 70-80% | Galena, Perle |
|
A true dual-purpose hop containing moderate amounts of alpha acids combined with an acceptable aroma profile. Aroma: Medium-strong, some wild American tones, woody with ever-green and mint overtones. Used For: Good for bittering with strong flavors and very fragrant. Steam beers, Dark English Ales, and German Lagers. |
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| Nugget | all-purpose | domestic | 12-14% | 4-6% | 70-80% | chinook, galena, cluster |
|
Selected from a cross between Brewer's Gold and a high alpha male. Aroma: Quite heavy and herbal, spicy. Used For: Extremely bitter. Medium to Dark Ales and Lagers. |
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| Perle | all-purpose | domestic | 7-9.5% | 4-5% | 80-85% | northern brewer, cluster, galena |
|
Derived frm English Northern Brewery, new to the U.S. industry. Aroma: Pleasant, slightly spicy. Used For: Minty bittering and good "green hop" aromas. All non-Pilsener Lagers and Wheats. |
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| Polnischer Lublin | finishing | poland | 3-4.5% | 2.3-3.8% | 40-55% | czech saaz, tettnang |
|
Another source of the classical noble-aroma type hop with long
and strong traditions. Widely believed to be a clone of Saaz. Used For: Finishing. |
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| Pride of Ringwood | all purpose | australia | 7-10% | 5.3-6.5% | 45-55% | centennial, galena, cluster |
|
At the time of release in 1965 it was the highest alpha hop in the world. Closely associated with such famous beers as Foster's Lager. Aroma: Quite pronounced but not unpleasant, citrus-like. Used For: Predominantly bittering but with interesting aromatic qualities. British Ales, Australian-style Ales and Lagers. |
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| Saaz | finishing | domestic | 3-4.5% | 3-4.5% | 45-55% | czech saaz |
|
U.S. equivalent of the Czech variety, but lacks some of the fineness of aroma. Aroma: Very mild and pleasant, spicy and fragrant. Used For: Finishing, very flavorful. Pilsners, Continental Lagers and Wheats. |
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| Saaz | finishing | czechoslovakia | 3-4.5% | 3-4.5% | 45-55% | tettnang (in a pinch), us saaz |
|
Classical noble aroma hop with long and strong traditions. Associated with the renowned Pilsner Lager. Aroma: Very mild with pleasant hoppy notes. Used For: Finishing. Bohemian style beers, Continental Lagers Wheats, Pilsner-Lagers. |
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| Styrian Goldings | finishing | slovenia | 4.5-6% | 2-3% | 65-80% | fuggle, willamette |
|
A world renowned aroma hop with widespread usage in both
ale and lager brewing. An ecotype of Fuggle grown in Slovenia. Used For: Bittering, finishing, dry hopping. English style Ales, Vienna/Oktoberfest Lagers, Belgian Ales, Pilsners. |
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| Target | all purpose | uk | 9.5-12.5% | 5-5.5% | 45-55% | maybe east kent goldings (no =) |
|
Widely used for high alpha acid content combined with an acceptable aroma. Aroma: Pleasant English hop aroma, quite intense. Used For: Robust bittering. British Ales and Lagers. |
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| Tettnang | finishing | domestic | 4-5% | 3-4% | 55-60% | Saaz |
|
Recently established in the U.S., traditional German variety, true noble aroma variety. Aroma: Fine, very spicy, mild, floral, very aromatic. Used For: Finishing. Wheats and Lagers. |
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| Willamette | finishing | domestic | 4-6% | 3-4% | 60-65% | Fuggle, styrian golding, kent golding |
|
A quality aroma hop with a smooth soft flavor. Can be used for ales and lagers. Aroma: Mild and pleasant, slightly spicy, aromatic. Used For: Finishing, dry hopping. American and British Ales. |
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References as follows.
Garetz, Mark. Using Hops: The Complete Guide to Hops for
the Craft Brewer. Danville,CA: HopTech, 1994.
Hopunion U.S.A.,Inc. Hop Variety Characteristics. Yakima,WA
Hopunion U.S.A., Inc. 1995.
Miller, David Homebrewing Guide. Pownal,VT: Storey Publishing.
1995.
Snyder, Stephen. The Brewmaster's Recipe Manual. Guttenburg,NJ
The Beer Garden Press, 1994.