Comparing and Selecting Hops
So how do I choose the right hops for my beer? With such a wide range of flavor and aroma characteristics, this chart can serve as a helpful guide to the multitude of hop varieties available to homebrewers. Whether you are trying to find a substitute hop for a certain style or are looking to experiment with a hop you've never brewed with before, the following list can help to get you started.
Known for its bittering potential. Fruity, tea and citrusy aroma.
Aromas of gooseberries, melon, cassis, chilies, and gazpacho.
Citrus (grapefruit, lemon), geranium, floral, pine, and earthy notes. Often used for its aromatic properties.
Massive resinous, as well as spicy and tangerine aromas.
Citrusy, flowery.
A high alpha acid varietal known for its disease resistance.
Sweet, spicy notes, with hints of citrus and herbs aroma.
Fruity, with intense berry character of black currant and gooseberry. Citrus high notes (particularly grapefruit) with slight resinous and herbal tones.
Floral, citrusy, herbal, aniseed and tea aroma.
Its aroma is delicately spicy-herbal with a fine, classic, noble hoppiness for a relatively high farnesene and linalool content, with the latter being a terpene alcohol closely related to myrcene.
A dual-use, high-alpha hop. Aroma and flavor characteristics of apricot, ripe mango, orchard fruit, orange, grapefruit, pine, and pineapple.
Bright and delicate aroma hop bursting with red ripe fruit flavors of currant, strawberry, and raspberry.
Clean bitterness, citrus, tropical fruit flavors.
Pine, Grapefruit and floral aroma.
Resinous and spicy with a bright orchard fruit and floral backdrop. It can project a new-mown grass or clover character in the hop back or dry hop.
Slovenian Bobek has an intense and pleasant hoppy aroma described as having a hint of pine, lemon, and floral.
Hoppy and spicy aroma. Generally used as a breeding hop in an effort to pass on its low cohumulone rate of around 14%.
Herbal, grass and spice aroma.
Grapefruit, vanilla and gooseberry aroma.
Orange, fruity, vanilla and floral aroma.
Bittering hop with neutral aroma character.
Black currant, fruity, spicy.
Grapefruit, passionfruit, spice and sweet hay aroma.
It is big and bold with a fruit-forward character including pineapple flavor/aroma and aromas of stone fruit, spice, and floral.
A rich hop primarily used for bittering. Intense blackcurrant aroma.
Citrus and floral notes.
Intense fruit flavors of stone fruits (apricot and peach), red berries, and passion fruit.
Exhibits pleasant fruity notes-apple, pear, fruit punch.
Pleasant, flowery, spicy, and citrusy. Can have a grapefruit flavor.
This dual purpose variety is an offspring of Cascade and Northern Brewer. Cashmere has aroma and flavor characteristics of melon, lemon, lime, herbs, and citrus fruits.
Moderate and pleasant zesty bitterness with matching floral aroma, making its use widespread in both ale and lager brewing.
Stores very well.
Medium with floral and citrus tones.
Mild to moderate, quite spicy.
Bittering hop high in alpha and beta acids. Fruity, floral, citrus aroma.
Mild to medium-heavy, spicy, piney, and grapefruity.
Intense citrusy flavor.
Well-balanced bittering potential. Strong hop/fruit aroma. Spicy flavor.
Noble aroma.
Three different hops but nearly indistinguishable, they collectively go by the name CTZ. Earthy and spicy characteristics. Generally used a bittering hop due to its high alpha acids. Hints of orange and grapefruit aromas when used as a late hop addition.
Grapefruit, lemon, orange, and grassy notes.
A noble-like hop that has higher beta acids than alpha acids. Green tea, floral, and light pear.
Mild and pleasant, spicy and flowery.
Citrus collides with pungent spice for an intense late hop contribution.
It can show a dominant bright citrus note of lemon or grapefruit, but never obscures the quintessential mixture of floral and earthy spice of its Saaz parent.
Soft, pleasantly spicy and herbal with vivid woodsy, earthy, and dark floral character. Distinctively “hoppy” in pale worts. Rootstock grown elsewhere doesn’t have the same range or balance as Czech flowers.
Floral and citrus aroma.
Spicy, earthy, ginger and citrusy aroma.
Pineapple, pine and citrus aroma.
A classic, noble, hoppy-fresh, herbal-spicy, floral aroma profile, which makes it ideal for dry hopping.
Moderate. Sweetly grassy with overtones of lemongrass, pine sap, and dried fruit.
Flowery with citrus peel or citrus candy overtones and a herbaceous, spring meadow-like undercurrent. Gentle and refined, dry hopping can bring forth its citrus aspects alongside a fresh grassy note.
Strong impressions of citrus, fruit, and herbs.
Dual purpose hop with intense tropical, pineapple and mango notes.
Complex hop with unique aromas of Cognac, leather, and tobacco. Lesser notes of citrus and tropical fruits.
Dual purpose hop that displays floral and subtle spice notes. When used as a late addition or dry hop, it imparts grapefruit and topical flavors.
A good dual purpose hop with very unique aromas. Reminiscent of Cluster, but with overtones of plum, fig cucumber, and mild wood.
Blackcurrant, loganberry, spice, grapefruit and lime aroma.
Pinot gris, raspberry, redcurrant and tropical fruit aroma.
Fruity and berry aroma.
Strong but pleasant fruity aroma, but generally used as a bittering hop.
An offspring of Apollo and German Merkur, Eureka! has aromas and characteristics of strong herbal notes, pine, mint, grapefruit rind, tangerine, and other citrus. Great for brewers looking for varieties to use in late addition, whirlpool, or “hop stand” hop additions.
A little like Golding family; spicy.
Mild and pleasant, woody, earthy, and slightly floral.
When used as a late addition or dry hopped, it contributes a pungent flavor of passionfruit and citrus.
Intense and potent. Musky tropical fruit (passionfruit, apricot, Key lime) with dank citrus and earthy blackcurrant.
Medium but pleasant hoppiness, citrusy.
Dual purpose hop with a citrus earthy aroma.
Aroma hop similar to the UK Goldings. Aromas are delicate, sweet floral, spicy.
Moderately intense with a distinct floral, resinous character reminiscent of Styrian Goldings, layered with hints of musky Southern Hemisphere fruit.
A dual purpose hop which has been used to replace Perle
Winey, passion fruit, grapefruit, gooseberry, pineapple character.
Has a fine, if understated, character, showing restrained and mild fresh flower and fruit aromatics when used late in the boil.
Citrusy, sugar-like, mint and pineapple aroma.
Complex, but mild and approachable. A mixture of sweet, earthy,and herbal with vivid impressions of new-mown hay, sweet spices, and dried flowers.
Dual-purpose hop with earthy aromas as well as pepper, lime, currant, and spice. It has the highest xanthohumol content of any hop, which is a potent antioxidant.
Known for its aromatic properties. A replacement for Hallertauer Mittelfrüh.
Very mild, pleasant, and slightly flowery, some spicy.
Known for its aromatic properties similar to Hallertauer.
The ideal Australian hop to provide your beer with the refined hop characters typical of the flavour and aroma contributions from European hops.
Dual-purpose hop with a clean bitterness and fresh citrus flavors of orange and grapefruit.
Pepper, spicy, resinous and orange aroma.
Floral and herbal – similar to Mittelfrüh, but with an added element of fruit and more dominant spice component.
Spicy, floral. Low co-humulone results in clean tasting beer.
Honeydew melon and strawberry aroma.
A dual-purpose variety with flavors and aromas of tropical fruit, orange, apricot, black tea, pine, and herbs.
Forward impressions of fruit candy supported by citric grapefruit.
A high-alpha hop, the flavor imparts a mild sweetness and a tea-like spice, with flavors and aromas of banana, pear, spice, and herbal notes.
Bittering hop with a blackcurrant, spicy, grapefruity aroma.
Gentle, fragrant, and pleasant.
Aroma hop with high essential oils and intense floral characters of pine needles and tropical fruit.
Pleasant tropical fruit, showing bright lime and pineapple with traces of pine.
Clean grapefruit, floral, black currant notes and a spicy aroma.
This aroma hop originated from a cross between Cascade and USDA 19058 male. It features (of course) lemony, floral, earthy, herbal, grassy, citrus, pepper, and pine notes.
Mild and clean aroma, slightly spicy character.
Dark fruit, floral, lemon-citrus and pepper aroma.
Exceptional aromatic characteristics of orange and vanilla, followed by notes of candied grapes and tropical fruit.
Mild and typical of noble aroma types, spicy, herbal.
High alpha variety with spicy and mild fruity aroma.
Mandarin orangey flavor and aroma.
Aniseed, grapefruit and lemon aroma.
Guava, citrus, melon, apricot, woody
Passionfruit, Grapefruit, citrus and summery characteristics.
Aroma hop with characteristics of citrus, lemon, mixed berry, tropical fruit, and spearmint.
Dual-purpose hop with aromas of pineapple, mint, and sugar.
Mild, herbal, similar to Nugget.
Refreshing character of citrus fruits, floral, and sweet fruits.
Red berry aromas and flavors — raspberries, strawberries, cherries, red currants, passion fruit.
Complex and pronounced. Strong impressions of citrus oil, balsam pine, blueberry, peach and tropical fruit. Notable mango character, but also shades of lime and mandarin orange.
Aroma hop that is fruity, tropical and citrusy.
Moderately intense and sweet with suggestions of herbal notes, flowers and green fruit. Noble-like, it can be pungent with a more pronounced herbal note in fresh brews.
Aromas similar to nobel hops. Descriptions include: licorice, floral, Grass, cedar, lemon, and tea aroma.
Intensely tropical and fruity with dominant grapefruit and passionfruit notes, and undertones of spry hay, earthy baking spice, and resinous pine.
Distinctive white wine “fruitiness,” gooseberry. Considered by some as “extreme,” this hop is often used in specialty craft and seasonal beers.
A bittering hop. Earthy, light citrus, and balsamic.
Dual-purpose hop with aromas of spice, cedar, and pine.
Medium-strong with some wild tones.
Aromas of evergreen, wood, and peppery. US Northern Brewer has slightly higher alpha acids and higher myrcene oil than the German variety.
High-alpha hop that can be used as a dual-purpose hop with mild, pleasant, and herbal aromas.
Mild to medium, citrusy aroma, spicy.
German dual-purpose hop. Herbal, pepper, grass and aniseed aroma.
Orbit is different each year as it uses a proprietary blend of hops specially selected out of the New Zealand “Hops with a Difference” breeding program.
Spicy aroma.
Bittering hop with delicate blackberry and floral oak. Pleasant aroma and high bitterness level.
A “soft” bittering hop with spicy and citrus aroma qualities.
An aroma hop with some citrus and floral character
High-alpha bitterning hop with an herbal, earthy, and floral aroma.
Dual-purpose hop with aromas of apricot, grass, and floral.
A clean and pleasant variety with floral mint, herbal, citrus, thyme, cucumber, lemon, and sage characteristics. Sometimes described as “Saaz like.”
Known for its aromatic and bittering properties. Herbal and spicy.
Moderately intense, flroal and spicy.
Dual purpose hop with aromas of pine, chocolate, molasses, and floral.
Dual purpose hop with citrusy, fruity, spicy, and lemon aromas.
Marmalade, lemon and spice aroma.
A mild, typical English aroma.
Intense and lingering impressions of wintergreen, pleasant fruit notes, with a Hallertau-like sweetness and herbal note. Can exhibit a pungent, exotic spice flavor early in fermentation.
A dual purpose variety with a balanced bitterness and a fruity, lemon and lavender aroma.
Quite pronounced, woody, earthy, herbal.
Moderately strong, good aroma. Spicy, currant and cassis aroma.
High alpha acids and oil content (particularly myrcene) with low cohumulone, making it ideal for the “hoppy not bitter” school of new world IPAs. Aromas and flavors of ripe fruit, grassiness, lemon, grapefruit juice, and hints of tropical flowers.
Unique aromas described as, “the whole orchard.” Dominant stone fruits (especially apricot), tropical fruits, and candy.
Citrusy, grapefruit aroma hop
Very mild with pleasant hoppy notes, earthy, spicy, and herbal.
Mild and pleasant, earthy and spicy.
Grass, resinous and lemon aroma.
Complex and distinct fruit and citrus. Unique tangerine, coconut, tropical and stone fruit underscored by hints of cedar and mint.
Noble characteristics. Spicy, herbal and floral aroma.
Strongly but pleasantly spicy with sweet, fruity overtones (citrus, red berries). Mild and approachable in the “noble hop” sense.
Noble aroma.
Spicy, flowery, and hoppy with prominent undertones of ripe berry and citrus. Spice and wood character reminiscent of Spalt and Saaz. Powerful impressions but with great finesse.
A bittering and aromatic hop. Passion fruit, berry, bubblegum, citrus, earth, and pine aroma.
A dual-purpose Saaz hybrid. Fruity, passion fruit and citrus aroma.
Fruity and floral aromas.
Bittering hop with lemony aroma
Piney, resinous bittering hop
Ripe tropical fruit flavors like passion fruit, guava, and coconut, plus citrus and red berries. Sometimes even a floral aroma.
Pineapple, blueberries, tangerine, and tropical fruit. Complementary flavor and aromas of pine resin and herbal spice.
Kool-Aid, Juicy Fruit, citrus, mango, plums.
Melon, tropical fruit, and guava. Plus butterscotch or cream caramel reminiscent of the neomexicanus daughter Sabro®.
Complex with moderate to intense fruit (peach, red currant, berry, cherry) not quite balanced by a delicate, tangy spice quality. Suggestions of green tea leaves. Pairs well with earthy or herbal varieties in a blend.
Mild and pleasant, slightly spicy.
Very fine Spalter-type aroma.
Medium intensity and pleasant hoppy qualities. Medium-strong aroma with wild American tones.
Herbal, spicy, pleasant aroma, hint of floral and citrus.
Aroma hop with delicate spicy, citrus, floral, and herbal aromas.
Intense, pleasant and hoppy. Very suitable for extraction and for combination with other varieties in the brewing process.
Intense, pleasant hop aroma. Similar to Fuggle type.
Delicate, slightly spicy.
Invitingly earthy and resinous as befits its Fuggle background, but with a more refined and restrained nature. When used in a hopback or as a dry hop, look for heightened floral and sweet spice.
Previously referred to as Experimental #06277, Denali, and Nuggetzilla, it has immense pineapple characteristics and notes of citrus and pine.
A hop variety formerly known as Summer Saaz that has a gentle floral aroma, slightly earthy. Expect apricot and stone fruit notes when used in dry hopping.
Ultra high-alpha bittering hop, earthy aroma.
High-alpha bittering hop with herbaceous notes.
Earthy, piney bittering hop.
Grass and spice aroma.
A high alpha variety bred from Pride of Ringwood.
Earthy, grass, mint, citrus and vanilla aroma.
Floral, herbal and noble aroma.
Lemon, citrus, orange and spicy aroma.
Intense and pleasantly pungent with dried citrus and sagebrush overtones. Whirlpool or dry hop additions play up a spice character.
Shifting and evolving mix of floral, fruity, herbal and spicy – fresh herbs, grass, dried flowers, citrus peel, black tea.
Mild and pleasant, slightly spicy, herbal.
Primarily a bittering hop.
A dual purpose hop, Topaz adds a resinous, grassy flavors; however, with later additions and in higher gravity brews, light tropical fruit flavors (some say lychee) become more pronounced.
Melon, orange, resin, spice and pepper aroma.
Fruity, citrusy and floral aroma.
Fruity notes of lime, orange, peach, and bubblegum, with lesser notes of spice and pine.
Very good to outstanding, some Saaz-like qualities. Aromatic properties similar to Hallertauer.
Aroma similar to continental European types.
Clean and bright tropical character (passionfruit, pineapple) with supporting notes of fresh herbs and pine needles. Similar to Galaxy but lighter and less dominating.
Aroma hop with a startlingly citrus aroma made up of mandarin, lemon and lime zest
High alpha but also lots of oils giving fresh tangelo and citrus fruit aroma with pine needles
Wakatu features floral aromas, as well as notes of fresh lime zest, citrus oils, and has a Mittlefrüh-style sweetness.
A bittering and aromatic hop with notes of resin and pine.
Quite pleasant and hoppy, moderately intense, slightly spicy.
Mild and pleasant, slightly spicy, fruity, floral, a little earthy.
Orange, citrus, pine, mint and tropical fruit aroma.
Used as a kettle hop for bittering.
Grapefruit and lemon zest aroma.
Spicy with strong notes of tropical fruit (mango, passion fruit), citrus, and pine. Additional descriptors include savory, mint, and Fruity Pebbles™.
Aromatic and pleasant. Black pepper, onion and light citrus aroma.
