Dual purpose hops are unique in that that contain both sufficient alpha acids (AA%) for bitterness and essential oils for aroma and flavor, thus these hops can be used throughout the brewing process. Making a SMaSH (single malt and single hop) beer is a great way to use these type of hops.
One of the classic "C" hops of American craft beer, many acres in Oregon and Washington are under Centennial. Bred in 1974 and released in 1990, its complex parentage includes Brewers Gold, Fuggle, and East Kent Goldings. Centennial is a dual-purpose variety with high alpha acids and excellent aromatic capabilities. It's widely used as a finishing or dry hop as a stand-alone variety or part of a blend. The flavor and aroma notes are predominantly citrusy but with undertones of lemongrass and pine needles often evident.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: United States
Alpha Acid: 7.8%
Similar Varieties: Cascade, Chinook
Common Styles: American style Pale Ale, IPA, Stout, Blond Ale, Wheat Ale
The major landrace variety in the region of the same name in far southern Germany, Tettnang has common ancestry with Saaz but a unique profile due to its provenance. It is a classic European noble hop. Tettnang s complex and delicate flavors make it ideal for traditional German lagers, particularly Bavarian styles, Weissbiers, and German or Belgian ales. The flavor and aroma is a mix of floral, fruity, herbal and spicy - fresh herbs, grass, dried flowers, citrus peel, black tea. It can have a bit more intensity than Hallertau but with as much balance.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: Germany
Alpha Acid: 3.8%
Similar Varieties: Saaz, Crystal, Spalter Select, Hersbrucker
Common Styles: German and Belgian styles
Developed by Select Botanicals Group and released in 2000, Simcoe Brand YCR 14 cv. is known for its brewing versatility and unique aroma characteristics. It contains high alpha and low-cohumlone which has found favor in the craft and home brewing industries for dual purpose applications. Simcoe is moderately tolerant to powdery mildew and has good packability of a medium size cone.
Alpha Acid: 11.5 - 15%
Beta Acid: 3 - 4.5%
Co-humulone: 17 - 21%
Total Oil: 0.8 - 3.2 mL/100g
B-Pinene: 0.5 - 1% of total oil
Myrcene: 40 - 50% of total oil
Linalool: 0.5 - 0.9% of total oil
Caryophyllene: 8 - 14% of total oil
Farnesene: < 1.0% of total oil
Humulene: 15 - 20% of total oil
Geraniol: 0.8 - 0.8% of total oil
Known as HBC 369 until its release in 2012, Mosaic , as the name implies offers a complex array of desirable aroma and flavors. It is a daughter of Simcoe and a Nugget-derived male. Mosaic is often compared to Citra, with which it shares a respectable alpha content but a highly-desired oil profile that makes it most commonly used for flavor and aroma. Its exotic, fruit-laden bouquet lends itself well to American-style IPAs, saisons, wheats, and Brettanomyces-fermented beers. It offers strong impressions of citrus oil, balsam pine, blueberry, peach and tropical fruit (especially mango, but also shades of lime and mandarin orange).
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: United States
Alpha Acid: 11.2 %
Similar Varieties: Citra®
Common Styles: American Pale Ale, IPA
Idaho 7 is an experimental hop variety that was born out of Jackson Hop Farm in Wilder, Idaho (who would have thought). It's considered a dual-purpose hop due to its high alpha acid content (9%-14%) while also having a high oil content which makes it a solid finishing hop. Now let's take a look at all the cool science stuff:
Alpha Acids: 14 %Beta Acids: 4%-5%Total Oil: 1.0 -1.6Aroma & Flavor Profile: Pungent tropical fruit and citrus (orange, apricot, red grapefruit, papaya). Big notes of resiny pine and hints of black tea.
Columbus is a bittering hop from the United States. Used in IPAs, Imperial Ales, and Pale Ales. Can be referred to as CTZ (Columbus, Tomahawk, Zeus). Has an aroma profile of black pepper, licorice, and citrus.
Alpha Acids: 15.6%
Beta Acids: 4.5 - 6 %
Total Oil: 2.5 - 4.5 mL/100g
One of the classic "C" hops of American craft beer, many acres in Oregon and Washington are under Centennial. Bred in 1974 and released in 1990, its complex parentage includes Brewers Gold, Fuggle, and East Kent Goldings. Centennial is a dual-purpose variety with high alpha acids and excellent aromatic capabilities. It's widely used as a finishing or dry hop as a stand-alone variety or part of a blend. The flavor and aroma notes are predominantly citrusy but with undertones of lemongrass and pine needles often evident.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: United States
Alpha Acid: 7.8%
Similar Varieties: Cascade, Chinook
Common Styles: American style Pale Ale, IPA, Stout, Blond Ale, Wheat Ale
Also known as VGXP01, the Amarillo® variety is exclusively managed by Virgil Gamache Farms of Toppenish, WA, where it was originally found growing wild in 1998.With respectable alpha acid content, Amarillo¨ can be a dual-purpose hop and contribute to bittering additions, but with its unique, highly sought-after aromas and flavors combined with high demand, it s most often seen in late-kettle or whirlpool additions and as a dry hop. Amarillo® is intense and pungent. Red grapefruit overtones reminiscent of Cascade are overlaid with tropical fruit and ripe melon. It can contribute a renowned musty dank quality much prized by those who love it.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: United States
Alpha Acid: (8.0 - 11.0)%
Similar Varieties: Centennial, Cascade
Common Styles: Pale Ale, IPA, Imperial IPA, Red Ale
Known as HBC 369 until its release in 2012, Mosaic , as the name implies offers a complex array of desirable aroma and flavors. It is a daughter of Simcoe and a Nugget-derived male. Mosaic is often compared to Citra, with which it shares a respectable alpha content but a highly-desired oil profile that makes it most commonly used for flavor and aroma. Its exotic, fruit-laden bouquet lends itself well to American-style IPAs, saisons, wheats, and Brettanomyces-fermented beers. It offers strong impressions of citrus oil, balsam pine, blueberry, peach and tropical fruit (especially mango, but also shades of lime and mandarin orange).
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: United States
Alpha Acid: 11.2 %
Similar Varieties: Citra®
Common Styles: American Pale Ale, IPA
El Dorado is a unique, dual-purpose hop with exceptional aroma qualities and high alpha acid levels. A relatively new variety, its consistent performance eliciting fruity notes, especially tropical fruit flavors, has quickly made El Dorado popular for hop-forward styles or beers with complex flavor profiles. Tasting notes commonly specify aromas of watermelon, pear, candy, or stone fruit. There is often an undertone of citrus, and sometimes an identifiable fresh-cut-grass taste.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: Moxee, WA (US)
Alpha Acid: 13.6%
Similar Varieties: Citra, Nelson Sauvin, Rakau
Common Styles: American Pale Ale, IPA
Galaxy is a highly desired hop not only for its great bittering potential, but for its aromatics as well. This dual-purpose hop has become a favorite for pale ales and IPAs because of its subtle citrus notes and undertones of passionfruit, mango, and peach.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: Australia
Alpha Acid: 14.1%
Similar Varieties: Citra
Originally developed in the 1980s in Japan for Sapporo, recent years have seen Sorachi Ace gaining acreage in the Pacific Northwest. Its parentage includes Brewers Gold, Saaz, and Beikei No. 2. With a potent alpha acid level, Sorachi is a more than capable bittering hop, while its unique aromatics make it welcome in styles that embrace bright citrus character: saison, witbier, and exotic riffs on IPA. Sorachi Ace is distinctive with a suggestion of dill and unmistakable overtones of lemon, including wood polish, fruit pith, and Lemon Zinger tea.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: United States
Alpha Acid: 12.0 %
Similar Varieties: Southern Cross
Common Styles: Pilsner, Saison, IPA
Bred from Norther Brewer and English Golding stock, Target is an excellent bittering hop with a classic English character. While typically used for its high alpha percentage, this hop has gained some popularity for its aroma as well.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: United Kingdom
Alpha Acid: 10.8%
Similar Varieties: Fuggle, Willamette
Bred at Hülll from English Northern Brewer stock, Perle became extremely popular with German growers and brewers after its release in 1978. Primarily an aroma hop, in an excellent year it can have high enough alpha content for use as bittering as well. Its combination of delicacy and brightness go well with the clean flavors of European lagers and cold-fermented ales, as well as the yeast character of many Belgian beers. Some brewers also find nontraditional use for its flavors in blends for pale ale and other hoppy warm-fermented styles. Its aroma is lively and sweet with harmonized suggestions of fresh mint and spice in the nose. On the palate, Perle shows a complex mix of floral and spice with mild to medium intensity.
Hop Type: Aroma
Origin: Germany
Alpha Acid: 7.1 %
Similar Varieties: Liberty, Northern Brewer, Cluster
Common Styles: Continental Ales and Lagers
Pacific Jade is a high-alpha hop that produces a very soft bitterness, attributable to its low cohumulone content. The smooth bitterness can allow the mouthfeel or flavor characteristics of other ingredients to be featured without sacrificing hoppiness. The bold, citrus and pepper aroma provides excellent results in dual-purpose applications, and nicely compliments full, malty beers.
Hop Type: Bittering
Origin: New Zealand
Alpha Acid: 14.5%
Common Styles: American pale ales, IPA
Nelson Sauvin is a highly prized, dual-purpose hop that has been used in a wide range of styles by craft brewers. It has a distinctive aroma, similar to Sauvignon Blanc wine or crushed gooseberries. Notes of passionfruit and tangerine are apparent as well. Nelson Sauvin has a low cohumulone content, which imparts a smooth bitterness.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: New Zealand
Alpha Acid: 10.6 %
Super Alpha, despite its name, is a versatile, dual-purpose hop. Slight notes of fresh grass underlie a complex aroma of pine and lemongrass, making Super Alpha a desirable choice for late hop additions or dry hopping. When used for bittering, Super Alpha can deliver a very crisp, bitter edge to the back palate, and adds a slight resinous character. This interesting hop can be used in ales or lagers, and in both classic and new-world styles.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: New Zealand
Alpha Acid: 13.2%
Similar to its Saaz parent, Sterling has an herbal aroma with floral and citrus notes. But its higher alpha acid content makes it suitable for dual-purpose applications in a wide variety of beer styles.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: United States
Alpha Acid: 12.3
Similar Varieties: Saaz, Lublin
Common Styles: Czech Lagers, Belgian Ales, American Ales
An offspring of Brewer's Gold with some ancestry from an American wild hop, this English-bred high alpha variety later found favor and acreage all over the world. In Germany it s known primarily as a bittering hop. German Northern Brewer is predominantly spicy with an undercurrent of woods and wild fruit, suggestive of its Brewer s Gold parentage. Overall balanced with lasting flavor that reads as simply hoppy - not as outright woodsy and bright as US-grown Northern Brewer.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: Germany
Alpha Acid: 6.9%
Similar Varieties: Chinook, Columbus, Galena, Magnum
Common Styles: Continental Lagers, Belgian Ale, Trappist Ale, Farmhouse Styles
Horizon is an excellent bittering hop, not only for its high alpha percentage, but also low cohumulone content, which ensures a very smooth bitterness. The aromatic qualities are not to be overlooked - Horizon is a dual-purpose variety. It has a very desirable, delicate nose with floral and citrus notes. Horizon is widely used in craft breweries to brew a variety of styles.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: United States
Alpha Acid: 11.4%
Similar Varieties: Magnum
Green Bullet is a high alpha variety that also has a pleasant aroma of lemon candy with subtle spice and grassy notes. Although many high-alpha varieties are used mostly in ales, Green Bullet performs equally well in lager styles.
Hop Type: Bittering
Origin: New Zealand
Alpha Acid: 12.1%
Glacier is a mild, dual-purpose hop with a pleasant aroma and low cohumulone levels.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: United States
Alpha Acid: 5.1%
Similar Varieties: Willamette, Fuggle
Common Styles: Pale Ale, ESB, Porter, Stout
Galaxy is a highly desired hop not only for its great bittering potential, but for its aromatics as well. This dual-purpose hop has become a favorite for pale ales and IPAs because of its subtle citrus notes and undertones of passionfruit, mango, and peach.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: Australia
Alpha Acid: 14.1%
Similar Varieties: Citra
El Dorado is a unique, dual-purpose hop with exceptional aroma qualities and high alpha acid levels. A relatively new variety, its consistent performance eliciting fruity notes, especially tropical fruit flavors, has quickly made El Dorado popular for hop-forward styles or beers with complex flavor profiles. Tasting notes commonly specify aromas of watermelon, pear, candy, or stone fruit. There is often an undertone of citrus, and sometimes an identifiable fresh-cut-grass taste.
Hop Type: Dual-Purpose
Origin: Moxee, WA (US)
Alpha Acid: 13.6%
Similar Varieties: Citra, Nelson Sauvin, Rakau
Common Styles: American Pale Ale, IPA