Hop Variety Handbook
I have created this page to give the professional craftbrewer, amateur homebrewer, and anyone interested in hops a central location to research the myriad varieties available around the world.
Now listing 108 separate and unique varieties of hops.
If you find this information to be in error,
or have an addition to make to this list...please contact the author here.
Commercial hop growers/dealers: Please feel free to send hop
information to the above e-mail address.
Please be patient while I complete
this document. Last updated: July 5, 2000
I am
currently working on a new format for this handbook which will include almost
twice as many hops as currently listed. It will still contain the quick
reference chart below, but each hop will link to a individual and separate page with details.
Click here to see an example of one of these detail pages.
Please let me know what you think about its design, layout and usefulness.
Variety | Type | Average Alpha Acid Percent |
Origin | Source |
Comments |
Admiral (RH 40) | Bittering | 11.5-14.5 | England | Click here for comments | |
Ahil (See Super Styrian) | Dual | 8-10 | Slovenia | Click here for comments | |
Ahtanum | Aroma | 5.7-6.3 | US | Click here for comments | |
Amarillo | Aroma | 6-8 | US | 1,2 | Click here for comments |
Apolon (See Super Styrian) | Dual | 8-10 | Slovenia | Click here for comments | |
Aquila | Dual | 6-8 | US | Click here for comments | |
Asia Flower | Dual? | ??? | China | 8 | Click here for comments |
Atlas (See Super Styrian) | Dual | 8-10 | Slovenia | Click here for comments | |
Aurora (See Super Styrian) | Dual | 8-10 | Slovenia | Click here for comments | |
Backa | Aroma | <3 | Yugoslavia | Click here for comments | |
Banner | Dual | 9-11 | US | Click here for comments | |
Bianca/Bianco | Aroma | 7-8 | US | 8 | Click here for comments |
Blato | Aroma? | ??? | Czech Republic | 8 | Click here for comments |
Blsanka | Aroma? | ??? | Czech Republic | 8 | Click here for comments |
Bolton | ??? | ??? | US (Wild) | Click here for comments | |
Bor | Dual | 7-9 | Czech Republic | Click here for comments | |
Bramling Cross | Dual | 5-7 | England | Click here for comments | |
Brewer's Gold | Dual | 5.5-8.5 | Germany, China | 6 | |
Bullion | Bittering | 6-9 | England | Click here for comments | |
Canadian Red Vine | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8 | Click here for comments |
Cascade | Dual | 4-7 | US | Click here for comments | |
Centennial (CJF 90) | Dual | 8-11.5 | US | Click here for comments | |
Challenger | Dual | 6.5-8.5 | England | Click here for comments | |
Chelan | Bittering | 13-15 | US | 8 | Click here for comments |
Chinook | Dual | 11-14 | US | Click here for comments | |
Clones | 8 | Click here for comments | |||
Cluster | Dual | 5.5-8.5 | US | Click here for comments | |
Columbia | Aroma | 5-6 | US | Click here for comments | |
Columbus | Bittering | 14-16 | US | Click here for comments | |
Comet | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8 | Click here for comments |
Crystal | Aroma | 2-4.5 | US | Click here for comments | |
Early Zug | Aroma | ??? | Japan | 8 | Click here for comments |
Eastern Green | N/A | N/A | Japan, US | 8 | Click here for comments |
Elsasser | Aroma | <2 | France | Click here for comments | |
Eroica | Bittering | 9-13 | US | Click here for comments | |
First Gold | Dual | 6.5-8.5 | England | Click here for comments | |
Fuggle | Dual | 3.5-5.5 | England, US | Click here for comments | |
Furano Ace | N/A | N/A | Japan, US | 8 | Click here for comments |
Galena | Bittering | 10-14 | US | Click here for comments | |
Golden Star | Aroma | ??? | Japan | 8 | Click here for comments |
Golding | Aroma | 4-6 | US, Canada | Click here for comments | |
Green Bullet | Dual | 8-14 | New Zealand | 8 | Click here for comments |
Green Mountain | Aroma | ??? | US (Wild) | Click here for comments | |
Hallertauer Magnum | Bittering | 10-12.5 | Germany | Click here for comments | |
Hallertauer Mittelfruh | Aroma | 3.5-5.5 | Germany | Click here for comments | |
Hallertauer Tradition | Aroma | 4-7 | Germany | Click here for comments | |
Herald | Bittering | 11-14 | England | Click here for comments | |
Hersbrucker | Aroma | 2.5-5.5 | Germany, US | Click here for comments | |
Horizon | Dual | ??? | US | Click here for comments | |
Huller Bitterer | Aroma | 4.5-7 | Germany | Click here for comments | |
Kent Golding | Aroma | 4-6.5 | Kent, England | Click here for comments | |
Kirin II | Aroma | ??? | Japan | 8 | Click here for comments |
Liberty | Aroma | 3-5.5 | US | Click here for comments | |
Lublin/Lubelski | Aroma | 3-5 | Poland | Click here for comments | |
Lucan | Aroma? | ??? | Czech Republic | 8 | Click here for comments |
Mepuche | Dual? | 9 | Argentina | 8 | Click here for comments |
Mount Hood | Aroma | 3-8 | US | Click here for comments | |
Northdown | Dual | 7-10 | England | Click here for comments | |
Northern Brewer | Dual | 7-10 | US, Germany | Click here for comments | |
Nugget | Bittering | 9-14 | US, Germany | Click here for comments | |
Olympic | Dual | 11-13 | US | Click here for comments | |
Omega | Bittering | 'High-alpha' | England | 8 | Click here for comments |
Orion | Dual | 6-7.5 | Germany | Click here for comments | |
Osvald | Aroma? | ??? | Czech Republic | 8 | Click here for comments |
Pacific Gem | Dual | 14+ | New Zealand | Click here for comments | |
Perle | Dual | 5-9.5 | US, Germany | Click here for comments | |
Phoenix | Dual | 8.5-11.5 | England | Click here for comments | |
Pioneer | Dual | 8-10 | England | Click here for comments | |
Podlesak | Aroma? | ??? | Czech Republic | 8 | Click here for comments |
Pride of Ringwood | Dual | 7.5-11 | New Zealand | Click here for comments | |
Progress | Dual | 5-7.5 | England | Click here for comments | |
Quingdao Da Hua | Aroma? | ??? | China | 8 | Click here for comments |
Saaz | Aroma | 3.5-5 | Czech Republic | Click here for comments | |
Santium | Aroma | ??? | US | Click here for comments | |
Saxon | Dual | 6-7 | England | Click here for comments | |
Shinsu Wase | Aroma | 4.5-6 | Japan | 8 | Click here for comments |
Sladek | Dual | 9-9.5 | Czech Republic | Click here for comments | |
Sorachi Ace | N/A | N/A | Japan, US | 8 | Click here for comments |
Southern Brewer | Dual? | ??? | South Africa | 8 | Click here for comments |
Southern Cross | Dual | 11-14 | New Zealand | 8 | Click here for comments |
Spalter | Aroma | 3-6 | Germany | Click here for comments | |
Spalter Select | Aroma | 3.5-6 | Germany | Click here for comments | |
Sterling | Aroma | 6 | US | Click here for comments | |
Sticklebract | Dual | 11-12 | New Zealand | Click here for comments | |
Strisselspalt | Aroma | 3-4 | France | Click here for comments | |
Styrian Golding | Aroma | 4.5-6 | Slovenia | Click here for comments | |
Sudbury | ??? | ??? | US (Wild) | Click here for comments | |
Sun | Bittering | 12-16 | US | 3,4,8 | Click here for comments |
Sunbeam | Aroma | 4-5 | US | 8 | Click here for comments |
Super Alpha | Dual | 10-14 | New Zealand | 8 | Click here for comments |
Super Styrians | Dual | 8-10 | Slovenia | Click here for comments | |
Symphony | Bittering | 15 | US | 8 | Click here for comments |
Talisman | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8 | Click here for comments |
Target | Bittering | 9.5-13 | England | Click here for comments | |
Taurus | Bittering | 12-15 | Germany | Click here for comments | |
Tettnanger | Aroma | 3.5-5.5 | Germany, US | Click here for comments | |
Tillicum | Bittering | 10-15 | US | 8 | Click here for comments |
Tomahawk | Bittering | 15-17 | US | Click here for comments | |
Toyomidori | Bittering | ??? | Japan | 8 | Click here for comments |
Ultra | Aroma | 2-3.5 | US | Click here for comments | |
Vanguard | Aroma | 4-5 | US | Click here for comments | |
Westford | Aroma | 6 | US (Wild) | Click here for comments | |
WGV (Whitbread Golding Variety) |
Dual | 5-7.5 | England | Click here for comments | |
Willamette | Dual | 4-6 | US | Click here for comments | |
Yeoman | Bittering | 11-12 | England | Click here for comments | |
Zatec (see Saaz) | Click here for comments | ||||
Zeus | Bittering | 13-17 | US | 3,4,8 | Click here for comments |
Zlatan | Aroma? | ??? | Czech Republic | 8 | Click here for comments |
x | x |
A note about Average Alpha Acid Percentage: Maximum and minimum values may be taken from several sources covering multiple growing seasons. Only use this range as a rough guide. Always verify actual alpha acid percent before using.
Sources of data about individual varieties. Please
visit these fine establishments for more information about their wonderful hop
products and other beer and brewing related items.
1-Brewpub Magazine
2-Leener's Brew Works
3-S.S. Steiner Inc.
4-Alfred Haunold, November/December 1998.
"Flavor Characteristics of New
Hop Varieties," The New Brewer, 59-64
5-J.I. Haas Inc.
6-Hop Union Inc.
7-Yakima Chief
8-Jerrold F. Hilton, "Hops
- Into the Millennium"
Comments and Details
Admiral (RH 40)
(See Super Styrian)Another source indicates the alpha goes as high as 8%.
(See Super Styrian)Asia Flower
Another principal variety grown in China based on the American
Cluster.
Atlas (See Super Styrian)
A member of the Super Styrians group. No furthur
information about this specific variety is available.
Bianca/Bianco
Blsanka
A sub-variety of Saazer hops grown in the Zatec region of the Czech Republic.
Canadian Red Vine
Replaced by other hops with better brewing
and growing characteristics, taken out of production.
Centennial (CJF 90)
Clones
No. 31, 72 and 114 are sub-varieties
of Saazer hops grown in the Zatec region of the Czech Republic.
No. 18 is also a sub-variety of Saazer grown in the Ukraine, with 3-3.5% alpha.
Comet
Replaced by other hops with
better brewing and growing characteristics, taken out of production.
Furano Ace
Oregon State University's station near Corvallis, Ore. has been growing the
Japanese hop cultivar Furano Ace for use in germplasm introduction for breeding
purposes.
Golden Star
A Japanese aroma variety.
Kirin II
A Japanese aroma variety.
Crop was decimated by the 1997 powdery mildew outbreak, and growers have agreed not to grown this variety again because it seemed to enhance the spread of the disease throughout the valley.
Replaced by other hops with better brewing and growing characteristics, taken out of production. Tillicum is a alpha acid variety with a very high content of beta acids. The variety was developed through a private company's breeding program and released in 1995. Its a daughter of Galena and a full sister to Chelan and therefore has analytical data similar to both varieties. Tillicum differs from Chelan by its early harvest maturity and is the earliest ripening high alpha acids variety in the US. A Northern Brewer derivative, is the only bittering variety grown in Japan. (Whitbread Golding Variety) (see Saaz)Zeus
Zeus has been noted as pungent, almost flowery. Primary use
will be for extraction, but some brewers are using as early kettle hops.
Fortunately proved to be resistant to powdery mildew.
Zlatan
A sub-variety of Saazer hops grown in the
Zatec region of the Czech Republic.
Disclaimer: Much of the information contained in this document was taken from other sources. See sources section above.