It seems like every year there are more and more hops that curious homebrewers want to use in their brew. This is because there are active hop breeding programs all around the world! Older varieties gradually lose acreage to the new entrants, some of whom flare briefly on to the market before disappearing themselves. I assembled this table as part of a different project, which you can read all about here. It is so useful with the search function in the upper right that I reproduced it over here. Enjoy!
We chose to exclude typical alpha acid range because 1) it doesn’t have a direct correlation to the aromatics, and 2) then someone would want the beta acid range, followed by cohumulone, volatile oil composition, ect. We’re keeping it simple and focused!
An Incomplete List of Hops and their Aromatic Qualities
| Varietal | Origin | Perception |
|---|---|---|
| Admiral | UK | Pleasant, resinous hop aroma with hints of citrus (orange) and herbal flavors.¹ |
| Ahtanum™ | USA | Floral, earthy, citrus and grapefruit tones.¹ |
| Amarillo® | USA | Floral, tropical, and citrus (lemon, orange and grapefruit) characteristics.¹ |
| Apollo | USA | Line, pine, grapefruit, onion.³ |
| Aramis | France | Very fine spice and herbal notes with subtle citrus characteristics.¹ |
| Aurora (nee Super Styrian) | Styria (Austria) | Intense and pleasant displaying floral, pine and hoppy characteristics.¹ |
| Azacca™ | USA | Intense tropical fruit profile, with sustained impressions of apricot and very ripe mango and notes of pears, apples and pine.4 |
| Bitter Gold | USA | No specific aroma characteristics.¹ |
| Boadicea | UK | Mild floral and spicy characteristics with slightly grassy overtones.¹ |
| Bobek (aka Styrian B) | Styria (Austria) | Intense and pleasant with floral, pine and hop overtones.¹ |
| Bor | Czech | Hoppy, spicy.³ |
| Bramling Cross | UK | Strong spice, blackcurrant, loganberry and lemon characteristics.¹ |
| Bravo® | USA | Pleasant fruity and floral aroma characteristics.¹ |
| Brewer's Gold | USA | Spicy, fruity characteristics, black currant.¹ |
| Brewer's Gold | Germany | Black currant, fruit and spice characteristics.¹ |
| Bullion | USA | Strong and zesty blackcurrant characteristics.¹ |
| Calypso | USA | Apple, pear, tropical, mint.³ |
| Cascade | USA | Medium intense floral, citrus and grapefruit tones.¹ |
| Cascade | New Zealand | Exceptional levels of citrus moving more toward grapefruit. Distinct from US Cascade due to "terriour".² |
| Cashmere | USA | Mild herbal aroma with strong melon, lemon, lime and slightly spicy notes.¹ |
| Celeia (aka Styrian C) | Styria (Austria) | Pleasant and hoppy, similar to traditional European varieties.¹ |
| Centennial | USA | Medium intensity floral and citrus (lemon) tones.¹ |
| Challenger | UK | Cedar, green tea and sweet floral characteristics (as a late addition, it can provide crisp, fruity flavors).¹ |
| Chelan | USA | Mild floral and citrus characteristics.¹ |
| Chinook | USA | Distinct, medium intensity spice and pine characteristics with subtle notes of grapefruit.¹ |
| Citra® | USA | Strong citrus and tropical tones of grapefruit, melon, lime, gooseberry, passion fruit and lychee.¹ |
| Cluster | USA | Strong floral and spicy characteristics.¹ |
| Columbia | USA | Subtle earth and mild fruit tones.¹ |
| Columbus (aka Tomahawk, Zeus) | USA | Pungent, black pepper, licorice characteristics with subtle citrus overtones.¹ |
| Comet | USA | A pungent, wild American aroma with citrus (grapefruit) flavors.¹ |
| Crystal | USA | Mild, spicy and floral.¹ |
| Delta | USA | Apricot, ginger, lemon, earthy.³ |
| Dr. Rudi (nee Super Alpha) | New Zealand | Fresh citrus peel, pine and lemongrass flavors.¹ |
| East Kent Golding | UK | Smooth and delicate with floral, lavender, spice, honey, earth, lemon and thyme overtones.¹ |
| El Dorado™ | USA | Watermelon, pear, candy, or stone fruit. Often a citrus undertone.4 |
| Ella (nee Stella) | Australia | Spicy, hoppy and floral with hints of anise.¹ |
| Equinox™ | USA | Pronounced aroma profile with citrus, tropical fruit, floral and herbal characteristics.¹ |
| Eroica | USA | Forward fruit flavors.¹ |
| Experimental HBC 291 | USA | Typically described as peppery, floral and fruity.¹ |
| Experimental HBC 342 | USA | Mild citrus, tropical fruit and melon notes.¹ |
| Falconer's Flight® | USA | HopUnion Blend. Strong fruit and citrus characteristics, with layers of spicy and earthy overtones.¹ |
| Falconer's Flight® 7C's | USA | HopUnion Blend. Distinct tropical, floral, lemon and grapefruit characteristics.¹ |
| First Gold | UK | Slightly spicy, but smooth, with tangerine, orange marmalade, magnolia and floral flavors.¹ |
| Fuggle | USA | Mild wood and fruit characteristics.¹ |
| Fuggle | UK | Delicate and pleasant mint, grass and floral tones.¹ |
| Galaxy | Australia | Distinct citrus, peach and passion fruit flavors.¹ |
| Galena | USA | Spicy, blackcurrant and citrus (grapefruit) tones.¹ |
| Glacier | USA | Pleasant hop aroma.¹ |
| Golding | USA | Mild and delicate with sweet floral characteristics.¹ |
| Green Bullet | New Zealand | Subtle spiciness.¹ |
| Hallertau | USA | Mild and pleasant, yet spicy, with herbal and floral characteristics.¹ |
| Hallertau Aroma | New Zealand | Mix of floral and slight citrus character.² |
| Hallertau Blanc | Germany | Floral and fruity with passion fruit, grapefruit, pineapple, grape and lemongrass overtones.¹ |
| Hallertau Mittelfruh | Germany | Mild, yet spicy, with floral and citrus tones.¹ |
| HBC 438 | USA | Tropical and stone fruit, exceptionally unique herbal and mint. |
| Helga | Australia | Very mild and pleasant with delicate floral and herbal tones.¹ |
| Herald | UK | Orange, grapefruit.³ |
| Herkules | Germany | Spicy, floral and hop notes with hints of pine, black pepper and melon.¹ |
| Hersbruker (Hallertau Hersbruker) | Germany | Mild, herbal and floral characteristics, with fruity overtones.¹ |
| Horizon | USA | Pleasant and spicy, with floral characteristics.¹ |
| Hull (Huell) Melon | Germany | Distinct fruit characteristics including honeydew melon and strawberry flavors.¹ |
| Jarrylo™ | USA | Banana, pear, orange and spice.4 |
| Lemondrop | USA | Lemon, mint, green tea, slight melon/mango.³ |
| Liberty | USA | Mild and spicy with subtle lemon and citrus characteristics.¹ |
| Lublin | Poland | Mild aroma typical of classic noble hops.¹ |
| Magnum | USA | No distinct aroma characteristics.¹ |
| Magnum (Hallertau Magnum) | Germany | A delicate aroma with inclinations towards floral and fruit flavorings and a prevalent hoppy tang.¹ |
| Mandarina Bavaria | Germany | Distinct tangerine and citrus flavors.¹ |
| Marynka | Poland | Grapefruit, lime, anise.³ |
| Merkur (Hallertau Merkur) | Germany | Strong earthy, floral and citrus impressions.¹ |
| Millennium | USA | Mild and resinous with floral and herbal tones.¹ |
| Mosaic™ | USA | A complex array of tropical fruit, citrus, berry, herbal, earthy and pine characteristics.¹ |
| Motueka | New Zealand | Lively lemon and lime tones with background hints of tropical fruit.¹ |
| Mt. Hood | USA | Mild, herbal and somewhat pungent or spicy.¹ |
| Mt. Rainier | USA | Excellent floral and noble aromas, with citrus and licorice overtones.¹ |
| Nelson Sauvin | New Zealand | Distinct cool climate and white wine "fruitiness" with fresh crushed gooseberry and grape flavors.¹ |
| Newport | USA | Mild.¹ |
| Northdown | UK | Pleasant spice, cedar and pine characteristics with hints of floral and berry flavors.¹ |
| Northern Brewer | USA | Medium intensity, pine and mint characteristics.¹ |
| Northern Brewer | Germany | Medium intense herbal and floral tones.¹ |
| Nugget | USA | Mild and pleasant with spicy, herbal tones.¹ |
| (Hallertau) Nugget | Germany | Fruity, sugar-like, mint, pineapple.³ |
| Olympic | USA | Citrus characteristics with subtle spicy notes.¹ |
| Opal | Germany | Even dispersal of all aroma characteristics - fruity, floral, herbal and hoppy tones all appear.¹ |
| Orion | Germany | Gratifying hoppy noble aroma.³ |
| Outeniqua | South Africa | Punchy.³ |
| Pacific Gem | New Zealand | No distinct characteristics. Some brewers have noted delicate blackberry and floral or oak tones.¹ |
| Pacific Jade | New Zealand | Bold herbal aromas with hints of fresh citrus and crushed black pepper.¹ |
| Pacifica (nee NZ Pacific Hallertau) | New Zealand | Classic Hallertau character with some citrus and floral notes.¹ |
| Palisade® | USA | Apricot, grass and clean floral charcteristics.¹ |
| Perle | USA | Slightly spicy with herbal and floral characteristics.¹ |
| Perle | Germany | Delicate floral, fruit, spice and mint tones.¹ |
| Phoenix | UK | Crisp and mellow tones of pine, chocolate, molasses and spice characteristics.¹ |
| Pilgrim | UK | Distinct fruit and spice character with lemon, grapefruit, pear and berry.¹ |
| Pioneer | UK | Distinctly hoppy with pleasant citrus (lemon and grapefruit) tones and hints of herbal, cedar flavors.¹ |
| Polaris | Germany | Intense floral and pleasant mint tones.¹ |
| Premiant | Czech | Pleasant, mild aroma.¹ |
| Pride of Ringwood | Australia | Pronounced and pleasant, a distinct Australian aroma with cedar, oak and herbal tones.¹ |
| Progress | UK | Moderately strong spicy, grassy, floral, mint, earth and honey tones.¹ |
| Rakau | New Zealand | Fresh orchard fruits, specifically apricot with some resinous pine needle characteristics are noted.¹ |
| Riwaka | New Zealand | Delicate citrus and passionfruit.² |
| Saaz | USA | Mild spice and earth tones.¹ |
| Saaz | Czech | Very mild, with pleasant earthy, herbal and floral overtones.¹ |
| Santiam | USA | Slightly spicy with herbal and floral characteristics.¹ |
| Saphir (Sapphire) | Germany | Distinct spicy, fruit and citrus (tangerine) tones.¹ |
| Select | Germany | Floral and fruit characteristics.¹ |
| Simcoe® | USA | Unique passionfruit, pine, earth and citrus characteristics.¹ |
| Sladek | Czech | Fruity flavor profile including hints of peach, grapefruit and passion fruit.¹ |
| Smaragd (Emerald) | Germany | Predominantly fruity with strong floral and hop tones.¹ |
| Sonnet | USA | Goldings-like with floral notes.4 |
| Sorachi Ace | USA | Unique lemon and dill characteristics.¹ |
| Southern Brewer | South Africa | No outstanding flavor or aroma qualities.³ |
| Southern Cross | New Zealand | A delicate balance of citrus and spice, including a heady mix of lemon peel and pine needles.¹ |
| Southern Promise | South Africa | Grapefruit, ginger, apricot.³ |
| Southern Star | South Africa | Grapefruit, pear, rose, orange, gooseberries.³ |
| Sovereign | UK | Pleasant but intense fruity flavors with mild floral, grassy, herbal and mint characteristics.¹ |
| Spalt | Germany | Mild and herbal, with spicy, floral and fruit tones.¹ |
| Spalter Select | Germany | Earthy, citrusy aroma.¹ |
| Sterling | USA | Herbal and spicy, with a hint of floral, citrus (lemon/pineapple) characteristics.¹ |
| Sticklebract | New Zealand | Citrus, pine.³ |
| Strisselpalt | France | Very fine spicy, herbal, floral, lemon and other fruit tones.¹ |
| Styrian (Savinjski) Golding | Styria (Austria) | Very mild, noble hop flavor.¹ |
| Summer | Australia | Balanced citrus, melon and light apricot tones.¹ |
| Summit™ | USA | Distinct spice, earthy, onion, garlic and citrus (pink grapefruit, orange and tangerine) tones.¹ |
| Super Galena | USA | Grass, herbal.³ |
| Super Pride | Australia | Mild and pleasant subtle resin and fruit tones.¹ |
| Sussex | UK | Delicate (similar to Fuggle).¹ |
| Sylva | Australia | Complex and subtle, floral and herbal characteristics.¹ |
| Tahoma | USA | Predominate citrus and lemon notes with cedar, pine, floral, pepper and subtle green melon notes.¹ |
| Target | UK | An intense English hop aroma with distinct spicy, floral, sage and citrus characteristics.¹ |
| Taurus (Hallertau Taurus) | Germany | Strong noble characteristics.¹ |
| Tettnang | USA | Noble aroma that is pleasant and spicy.¹ |
| Tettnang | Germany | Mild and pleasant with balanced earthy, herbal and floral aroma impressions.¹ |
| Topaz | Australia | Resinous, grassy tones with light tropical flavors.¹ |
| Tradition (aka Hallertau Tradition) | Germany | Medium intense floral and herbal (grassy) tones.¹ |
| TriplePearl | USA | Pleasant and balanced with notes of melon, orange citrus, resin, spice and pepper.¹ |
| Triskel | France | Strong floral, fruit and citrus characteristics.¹ |
| Ultra | USA | Mild and pleasant with spicy, floral tones.¹ |
| Vanguard | USA | Herbal and floral tones.¹ |
| Waimea | New Zealand | Intense tangelo and citrus fruit with subtle pine characteristics.¹ |
| Wakatu | New Zealand | Restrained floral notes and freshly zested lime.¹ |
| Warrior® | USA | Mild and resinous with subtle citrus, pine and herbal characteristics.¹ |
| WGV (Whitbread Golding Variety) | UK | Fresh earthy, botanical and floral flavors.¹ |
| Willamette | USA | Mild and pleasant, with slightly spicy and floral tones.¹ |
| Yakima Gold | USA | Mild and pleasant.¹ |
| Zeus | USA | Black pepper, herbal, garlic, slight citrus.³ |
| Zythos® | USA | HopUnion Blend. Emulates Amarillo®. Distinct tropical (pineapple) and citrus tones, with slight pine characteristics.¹ |
1. http://www.hopunion.com/hop-varieties/
2. http://www.nzhops.co.nz
3. http://hopsteiner.com/variety-data-sheets/
Information comes from BSG in June 2015.
4. http://bsghandcraft.com/hops/hop-pellets-domestic.html
For the purposes of this table, “nee” means “originally released as”.