Chapter 5 - Hops 5.3 Hop Types Bittering Hop Varieties
Name:
Brewer's Gold
Grown:
UK, US
Profile:
Poor aroma; Sharp bittering hop.
Usage:
Bittering for ales
AA Range:
8 - 9%
Substitute:
Bullion, Northern Brewer , Galena
Name:
Bullion
Grown:
UK (maybe discontinued), US
Profile:
Poor aroma; Sharp bittering and black currant-like flavor when used in the boil.
Usage:
Bittering hop for British style ales, perhaps some finishing
AA Range:
8 - 11%
Substitute:
Brewer's Gold, Northern Brewer
Name:
Centennial
Grown:
US
Profile:
Spicy, floral, citrus aroma, often referred to as Super Cascade because of the similarity; A clean bittering hop.
Usage:
General purpose bittering, aroma, some dry hopping
Example:
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale
AA Range:
9 - 11.5%
Substitute:
Cascade, Columbus
Name:
Challenger
Grown:
UK
Profile:
Strong, fine spicy aroma widely used for English Bitters; A clean bittering hop.
Usage:
Excellent bittering hop, also used for flavoring and aroma.
Example:
Full Sail IPA, Butterknowle Bitter
AA Range:
6 - 8%
Substitute:
Progress
Name:
Chinook
Grown:
US
Profile:
Heavy spicy aroma; Strong versatile bittering hop, cloying in large quantities
Usage:
Bittering
Example:
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Sierra Nevada Stout
AA Range:
12 - 14%
Substitute:
Galena, Eroica, Brewer's Gold, Nugget, Bullion
Name:
Cluster
Grown:
US, Australia
Profile:
Small, spicy aroma; Sharp, clean bittering hop
Usage:
General purpose bittering (Aussie version has a better aroma and is used as finishing hop)
Example:
Winterhook Christmas Ale
AA Range:
5.5 - 8.5%
Substitute:
Galena, Eroica, Cascade
Name:
Columbus
Grown:
US
Profile:
Strong fine herbal flavor and aroma; Solid, clean bittering hop
Usage:
Excellent general purpose bittering, flavoring and aroma hop.
Example:
Anderson Valley IPA, Full Sail Old Boardhead Barleywine
AA Range:
13-16%
Substitute:
Centennial, Chinook, Galena, Nugget
Name:
Eroica
Grown:
US
Profile:
Good bittering hop;
Usage:
Good general purpose bittering
Example:
Ballard Bitter, Blackhook Porter, Anderson Valley Boont Amber
AA Range:
12-14%
Substitute:
Northern Brewer , Galena
Name:
Galena
Grown:
US
Profile:
Strong, clean bittering hop
Usage:
General purpose bittering
Example:
The most widely used commercial bittering hop in the US.
AA Range:
12 - 14%
Substitute:
Cluster, Northern Brewer , Nugget
Name:
Northern Brewer
Grown:
UK, US, Germany (called Hallertauer NB), and other areas (growing region affects profile greatly)
Profile:
Hallertauer NB has a fine, fragrant aroma; Dry, clean bittering hop
Usage:
Bittering and finishing for a wide variety of beers
Example:
Old Peculiar (bittering), Anchor Liberty (bittering), Anchor Steam (bittering, flavoring, aroma)
AA Range:
7 - 10%
Substitute:
Perle
Name:
Northdown
Grown:
UK
Profile:
Similar to Northern Brewer , but with a better flavor and aroma than domestic NB; A clean bittering hop.
Usage:
General purpose bittering, flavor and aroma for heavier ales.
Example:
Fuller's ESB
AA Range:
7 - 8%
Substitute:
Northern Brewer , Target
Name:
Nugget
Grown:
US
Profile:
Heavy, spicy, herbal aroma; Strong bittering hop
Usage:
Strong bittering, some aroma uses
Example:
Sierra Nevada Porter & Bigfoot Ale, Anderson Valley ESB
AA Range:
12 - 14%
Substitute:
Galena, Chinook, Cluster
Name:
Perle
Grown:
Germany, US
Profile:
Pleasant aroma; Slightly spicy, almost minty, bittering hop
Usage:
General purpose bittering for all lagers
Example:
Sierra Nevada Summerfest
AA Range:
7 - 9.5%
Substitute:
Northern Brewer , Cluster, Tettnanger
Name:
Pride Of Ringwood
Grown:
Australia
Profile:
Poor, citric aroma; Clean bittering hop
Usage:
general purpose bittering
Example:
Most Australian beers.
AA Range:
9 - 11%
Substitute:
Cluster
Name:
Target
Grown:
UK
Profile:
Strong herbal aroma can be too strong for lagers; A clean bittering hop.
Usage:
Widely used bittering and flavoring hop for strong ales.
Example:
Fuller's Hock, Morrells Strong Country Bitter
AA Range:
8 - 10%
Substitute:
Northdown
The next group are common examples of Aroma hops. Aroma hops can be used for bittering also, and many homebrewers swear by this, claiming a finer, cleaner overall hop profile. I like to use Galena for bittering and save the good stuff for finishing. But making these decisions for yourself is what homebrewing is all about.
There is a category of aroma hops, called the Noble Hops, that is considered to have the best aroma. These hops are principally four varieties grown in central Europe: Hallertauer Mittelfrüh, Tettnanger Tettnang, Spalter Spalt, and Czech Saaz. The location a hop is grown has a definite impact on the variety's character, so only a Tettnanger/Spalter hop grown in Tettnang/Spalt is truly noble. There are other varieties that are considered to be Noble-Type, such as Perle, Crystal, Mt. Hood, Liberty, and Ultra. These hops were bred from the noble types and have very similar aroma profiles. Noble hops are considered to be most appropriate for lager styles because the beer and the hops grew up together. This is purely tradition and as a homebrewer you can use whichever hop you like for whatever beer style you want. We are doing this for the fun of it, after all.
Aroma Hop Varieties
Name:
British Columbia (BC) Goldings
Grown:
Canada
Profile:
Earthy, rounded, mild aroma; Spicy flavor
Usage:
Bittering, finishing, dry hopping for British style ales. Used as a domestic substitute for East Kent Goldings. Not quite as good as EK.
AA Range:
4.5 - 7%
Substitute:
EK Goldings
Name:
Cascade
Grown:
US
Profile:
Strong spicy, floral, citrus (i.e. grapefruit) aroma.
Usage:
The defining aroma for American style Pale ales. Used for bittering, finishing, and especially dry hopping.
Example:
Anchor Liberty Ale & Old Foghorn Barleywine, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
AA Range:
4.5 - 8%
Substitute:
Centennial
Name:
Crystal a.k.a. CJF-Hallertau.
Grown:
US
Profile:
Mild, pleasant, slightly spicy. One of three hops bred as domestic replacements for Hallertauer Mittelfrüh.
Usage:
Aroma/finishing/flavoring
AA Range:
2 - 5%
Substitute:
Hallertauer Mittelfrüh, Hallertauer Hersbrucker, Mount Hood, Liberty, Ultra
Name:
East Kent Goldings (EKG)
Grown:
UK
Profile:
Spicy/floral, earthy, rounded, mild aroma;
spicy flavor
Usage:
Bittering, finishing, dry hopping for British style ales
Example:
Young's Special London Ale, Samuel Smith 's Pale Ale, Fuller's ESB
AA Range:
4.5 - 7%
Substitute:
BC Goldings, Whitbread Goldings Variety
Name:
Fuggles
Grown:
UK, US, and other areas
Profile:
Mild, soft, grassy, floral aroma
Usage:
Finishing / dry hopping for all ales, dark lagers
Example:
Samuel Smith 's Pale Ale, Old Peculiar, Thomas Hardy's Ale
AA Range:
3.5 - 5.5%
Substitute:
East Kent Goldings, Willamette, Styrian Goldings
Name:
Hallertauer Hersbrucker
Grown:
Germany
Profile:
Pleasant, spicy/mild, noble, earthy aroma
Usage:
Finishing for German style lagers
Example:
Wheathook Wheaten Ale
AA Range:
2.5 - 5%
Substitute:
Hallertauer Mittelfrüh, Mt. Hood, Liberty, Crystal, Ultra
Name:
Hallertauer Mittelfrüh
Grown:
Germany
Profile:
Pleasant, spicy, noble, mild herbal aroma
Usage:
Finishing for German style lagers
Example:
Sam Adam's Boston Lager, Sam Adam's Boston Lightship
AA Range:
3 - 5%
Substitute:
Hallertauer Hersbruck, Mt. Hood, Liberty, Crystal, Ultra
Name:
Liberty
Grown:
US
Profile:
Fine, very mild aroma. One of three hops bred as domestic replacements for Hallertauer Mittelfrüh.
Usage:
Finishing for German style lagers
Example:
Pete's Wicked Lager
AA Range:
2.5 - 5%
Substitute:
Hallertauer Mittelfrüh, Hallertauer Hersbruck, Mt. Hood,
Crystal, Ultra
Name:
Mt. Hood
Grown:
US
Profile:
Mild, clean aroma. One of three hops bred as domestic replacements for Hallertauer Mittelfrüh.
Usage:
Finishing for German style lagers
Example:
Anderson Valley High Rollers Wheat Beer
AA Range:
3.5 - 8%
Substitute:
Hallertauer Mittelfrüh, Hallertauer Hersbrucker, Liberty,
Tettnang, Ultra
Name:
Progress
Grown:
UK
Profile:
Assertive fruity aroma
Usage:
Widely used for real cask ales.
Example:
Hobson's Best Bitter, Mansfield Bitter
AA Range:
5 - 6%
Substitute:
Fuggles, Whitbread Goldings Variety
Name:
Saaz
Grown:
Czechoslovakia
Profile:
Delicate, mild, floral aroma
Usage:
Finishing for Bohemian style lagers
Example:
Pilsener Urquell
AA Range:
2 - 5%
Substitute:
Tettnang, Spalt, Ultra (some would claim there is no substitute)
Name:
Spalt
Grown:
Germany/US
Profile:
Mild, pleasant, slightly spicy
Usage:
Aroma/finishing/flavoring, some bittering
AA Range:
3 - 6%
Substitute:
Saaz, Tettnang, Ultra
Name:
Styrian Goldings
Grown:
Yugoslavia (seedless Fuggles grown in Yugoslavia),
also grown in US
Profile:
Similar to Fuggles
Usage:
Bittering/finishing/dry hopping for a wide variety of beers,
popular in Europe, especially UK.
Example:
Ind Coope's Burton Ale, Timothy Taylor's Landlord
AA Range:
4.5 - 7
Substitute:
Fuggles, Willamette
Name:
Tettnang
Grown:
Germany, US
Profile:
Fine, spicy aroma
Usage:
Finishing for German style beers
Example:
Gulpener Pilsener, Sam Adam's Oktoberfest, Anderson Valley ESB, Redhook ESB
AA Range:
3 - 6%
Substitute:
Saaz, Spalt, Ultra
Name:
Willamette
Grown:
US
Profile:
Mild, spicy, grassy, floral aroma
Usage:
Finishing / dry hopping for American / British style ales
Example:
Sierra Nevada Porter, Ballard Bitter, Anderson Valley Boont Amber, Redhook ESB
AA Range:
4 - 7%
Substitute:
Fuggles
Name:
Whitbread Goldings Variety (WGV)
Grown:
UK
Profile:
Flowery, fruity, a cross between Goldings and a Fuggle.
Usage:
Often combined with other varieties in Bitters
Example:
Whitbread Best Bitter
AA Range:
4 - 5%
Substitute:
Progress, Fuggles, EKG
Name:
Ultra
Grown:
US
Profile:
Very fine, mild, spicy with floral notes
Usage:
Excellent finishing hop for Pilsner and German style lagers.
Example:
(too new)
AA Range:
2-5%
Substitute:
Any Noble hop, Crystal, Liberty, Mt. Hood
