List of hop varieties facts for kids
This page lists different types of hop plants, which are called Humulus lupulus. Hops are special plants that have male and female parts. The female plants grow flowers, called cones. These cones are fertilized by pollen from the male flowers, which then makes seeds. Birds eat these seeds and help spread them far and wide!
For hundreds of years, people have grown female hop plants as a crop for making drinks. The first time a hop garden was ever written about was in the will of Pepyn III. The very first time different hop types were purposely grown together to create new ones was in 1919. This happened at Wye College in Kent, England, thanks to a person named E. S. Salmon. He created famous types like "Brewer's Gold" and "Bullion". By 2012, there were about 80 different kinds of hops used around the world, with even more being tested!
Hops from America
Ahtanum brand YCR 1 cv
Ahtanum is a hop type grown by Yakima Chief Ranches. It's known for its nice smell and a medium amount of bitterness. It has unique smells like grapefruit, earthy notes, and flowers. This hop is named after the place where the first hop farm in the Yakima Valley was started in 1869.
Amarillo brand VGXP01 cv
Amarillo is a popular American hop with a medium amount of bitterness. It has a very special and clear smell. It was found growing "wild" (meaning it grew by itself) in a hop field and was later developed by Virgil Gamache Farms. It's also called VGXP01 and is named after Virgil Gamache, the family's leader.
Apollo
Apollo hops are known for having a very high amount of alpha acids, which makes them very bitter. They also stay fresh for a long time and can fight against a plant sickness called powdery mildew. This hop was created in 2000 in Washington state.
Azacca
Azacca hops smell mostly like citrus and tropical fruits. Think mango, papaya, orange, grapefruit, lemon, and even a bit of pine or spice. It's named after Azacca, a god of farming from Haiti.
Calypso
Calypso is a hop that can be used for two things: making drinks bitter and giving them a nice smell. It smells like pear, apple, and earthy tea.
Cascade
Cascade is a very popular American hop known for its smell. It was created in 1956 but wasn't grown widely until 1972. It has a flowery, spicy, and citrusy smell, often like grapefruit. It's one of the "Three Cs" along with Centennial and Columbus.
Centennial
This American hop was created in 1974 and released in 1990. It's similar to Cascade and Chinook hops. Centennial is sometimes called a 'Super Cascade' because it has a very strong citrus smell.
Citra brand HBC 394 cv
Citra is a special hop known for its smell. It was created by the Hop Breeding Company and released in 2007. Citra hops have a good amount of alpha acids and oils. They give drinks a citrusy (like grapefruit) and tropical fruit taste.
Cluster
Cluster hops come from an old American type of hop. They might have come from a mix of hops brought by Dutch and English settlers and wild American male hops. They can give a blackcurrant smell or taste.
Columbus
Columbus is an American hop that gives a lot of bitterness and grows well. It's also known as Tomahawk. It's one of the "Three Cs" (with Cascade and Centennial). It smells citrusy and a bit woody. Columbus has a lot of oils and can give drinks a 'resiny' (like tree sap) quality.
Crystal
Crystal is an American hop created in 1993. It's spicier than Hallertau hops, smelling like cinnamon, black pepper, and nutmeg.
El Dorado
El Dorado was created by CLS Farms and released in 2010. It's a bittering hop with tropical fruit flavors.
Ekuanot
Ekuanot was created in 2014. It's known for its strong smell, including fruit, eucalyptus, clove, and tobacco. It used to be called Equinox.
Eroica
This hop was created in 1968 and released in 1979 in Idaho. It's a very strong-smelling bittering hop, often used in wheat drinks.
Galena
Galena was created in 1968. It has a high amount of alpha acids, which means it's quite bitter.
Glacier
Glacier is an American hop that came from the Fuggle hop.
Horizon
Horizon is an American hop created in Oregon in 1970.
Liberty
Liberty is an American hop created in 1983. It smells spicy (like cinnamon), resiny, and a little sweet. It's good for German or American lagers.
Mount Hood
Mount Hood is a soft American hop that came from Hallertau. It's often used when you want only a light hop smell. It's named after Mount Hood in Oregon.
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier was first grown in Oregon. It has a mix of different hops in its family, including Hallertau and Fuggle. It smells a bit like licorice with a hint of citrus.
Mosaic brand HBC 369 cv
Mosaic is a hop with high alpha acids and smells like tropical fruit, blueberry, tangerine, flowers, and earth.
Nugget
Nugget hops have a flowery, resiny smell and taste. They are mainly used for making drinks bitter.
Palisade brand YCR 4 cv
Palisade is a hop known for its great growth and special smell. It smells like apricot, grass, and flowers.
San Juan Ruby Red
This hop was found growing wild in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. It smells fruity and a little sweet. It's a new American hop that has qualities like the "noble" hops.
Santiam
Santiam is an American hop with a floral smell and a medium amount of bitterness. It's named after the Santiam River in Oregon.
Simcoe brand YCR 14 cv
Simcoe hops were released in 2000. They are known for being useful in many ways and having unique qualities. Simcoe hops have smells like passion fruit, pine, earth, and citrus. They also make drinks very bitter.
Sterling
Sterling is an American floral hop released in 1998. It's a mix between Saaz and Mount Hood hops.
Summit
Summit hops are good for strong drinks like barleywines and IPAs. They often give tangerine flavors and smells when added later in the brewing process.
Tomahawk
Tomahawk is another name for Columbus hops.
Ultra
Ultra is a hop created in 1983. It smells peppery and spicy, similar to Saaz hops.
Vanguard
Vanguard is an American hop created in 1982. It adds a sweet, slightly spicy smell and taste. It's good for lagers, pilsners, and wheat drinks.
Warrior brand YCR 5 cv
Warrior is a hop used for its mild, clean bitterness. It's often used in American pale ales and IPAs.
Willamette
Willamette is a popular American hop developed in 1976 from the English Fuggle hop. It's named after the Willamette Valley, an important hop-growing area. It smells similar to Fuggle but is more fruity and has some floral notes.
Zeus
Zeus is an American hop with a strong smell and high bitterness. It's very similar to Columbus/Tomahawk. These three hops are sometimes called "CTZ hops."
Zythos
Zythos is actually a mix of different American hops. It was made especially for American Pale Ale (APA) and India Pale Ale (IPA) drinks. It's said to be a mix of Simcoe, Citra, Palisade, and Amarillo. It has clear tropical (like pineapple) and citrus smells, with a little bit of pine.
Hops from England
Admiral
Admiral is a hop with high alpha acids, mostly used for bitterness. It can give a mild orange taste if added later.
Archer
Archer is a hop that doesn't grow too tall and can fight against a plant sickness called wilt. It's also good at resisting powdery mildew. Archer was released in 2013.
Boadicea
Boadicea is a spicy, light, and floral hop. It was created in 2004 to be resistant to aphids (tiny bugs) and needs fewer bug sprays than other hops.
Bramling Cross
This hop can be used for two purposes. It was created in 1951 by Professor Salmon in England. It's a mix between the Bramling Goldings hop and a wild hop from Canada.
Brewer's Gold
Brewer's Gold is a British bittering hop created in 1919. Many modern hops with high alpha acids came from Brewer's Gold. It has a resiny, spicy smell and taste, with hints of black currant.
Bullion
Bullion is a bittering hop. It was one of the first hops in the world with high alpha acids. It was created in 1919 in England. It's mainly used for making dark drinks like Stouts and Dark ales bitter. This hop has a resiny/earthy smell and taste.
Challenger
Challenger is an English hop introduced in 1972. It's very popular for English ales and can be used for two purposes. When used for bitterness, Challenger can give a nice marmalade, toffee, or citrus taste.
Endeavour
Endeavour is a hop created from Cascade, with citrus and blackcurrant flavors.
Ernest
Ernest was created in 1921 but wasn't named until 2016. It was first thought to smell "too American," but later, American flavors became popular.
First Gold
First Gold was the first English dwarf hop grown for sale. It was released in 1995. Its smell is a mix of Goldings and Challenger hops.
Fuggle
Fuggle is a classic English hop known for its smell. It's a parent to many other hops like Cascade and Willamette. This hop was first noticed growing "wild" in a hop garden in Kent, England, in 1861. It was later sold by Richard Fuggle in 1875, which is how it got its name. It smells more earthy and less sweet than Goldings.
Goldings
Goldings are the classic English hops. They are a group of similar types that are picked at different times. East Kent Goldings (EKG) have been sold since 1838 and are very special. They must be grown in a specific area of East Kent and meet certain standards. The soil and weather in East Kent are perfect for growing hops.
Goldings are used for making drinks bitter and for adding flavor later. They are known for a smooth, sweet bitterness with spicy and earthy smells.
Herald
Herald is an English hop used for both smell and bitterness. It's a sister hop to Pioneer.
Northdown
Northdown is a hop developed in England in the 1970s. It's very resiny.
Northern Brewer
Northern Brewer was one of the first hops to have very high alpha acids (9-10%). It was created in 1934 in England. It's grown in Europe and America and used for two purposes, but mainly for bitterness. It has a woody, earthy, and fruity smell and taste.
Olicana
Olicana is a hop that was released in 2014. It's good at resisting wilt, a plant sickness. It was found to be very good and resistant to wilt.
Phoenix
Phoenix is an English hop that can be used for two purposes. It has a mild smell and a slightly spicy taste.
Pilgrim
Pilgrim was created in England and released in 2000. It can be used for two purposes and has lemon smells.
Pilot
Pilot is a UK hop that was officially named in 2002. It can resist wilt, smells good, and grows well.
Pioneer
Pioneer is an English hop, a sister to Herald. It has a clear bitter lemon taste.
Progress
Progress is an English hop with higher alpha acids. It was developed in the 1960s to replace Fuggle.
Target
Target is an English hop with medium to high alpha acids.
Whitbread Golding Variety (WGV)
WGV was created in England in 1911. It's not a "true" Golding hop, but it's similar and has a strong, sweet, fruity smell.
Hops from Germany
Hallertauer Magnum
Magnum is a hop with high alpha acids, a mild taste, and not much smell. It was created in 1980. It seems to give a smooth bitterness and a good smell. This hop is also grown in the U.S.
Hallertauer Merkur
Merkur is a hop from Germany. It's mainly used for bitterness but can give an earthy, citrusy smell.
Hallertauer Taurus
Taurus is a hop from Germany with very high alpha acids for bitterness.
Hallertauer Tradition
Tradition was created in 1991 to resist diseases. It smells like grass, similar to Hallertau, but is easier to grow.
Herkules
Herkules is a hop with high alpha acids for bitterness. It was released in 2005.
Huell Melon
Huell Melon is a hop that smells like fruity honeydew melon and apricot. It has a very high amount of limonene, which gives it a citrusy smell. It's one of Germany's "Special Flavor Hops."
Mandarina Bavaria
Mandarina Bavaria is a hop that smells like fruity mandarin orange and citrus. It has a very high amount of geraniol, which adds to its floral scent. It's another one of Germany's "Special Flavor Hops."
Opal
Opal is a hop from Germany that smells great and has a good amount of alpha acids. It smells like sweet spice, a little peppery, and has a light, clean citrus fruit smell.
Perle
Perle is a German hop that can be used for two purposes. It's often used with other hops. It smells spicy and a little floral/fruity.
Polaris
Polaris is a hop with high bitterness and a fresh, fruity/spicy smell, like mint and menthol. It has a very high amount of total oils. Polaris was created in 1999 but released in 2012 as one of Germany's "Special Flavor Hops."
Saphir
Saphir is a new hop that is starting to replace the Hallertauer Mittelfrüh type because that one is getting sick more often. Saphir has many of the same qualities and is great for its smell.
Smaragd
Smaragd is a hop with medium alpha acids and fruity, floral qualities.
Spalter Select
Spalter Select is a German hop that can resist diseases. It was developed in the early 1990s.
Noble Hops
"Noble hops" are a group of traditional European hops known for their fine, mild, and balanced aromas.
Hallertau
Hallertauer Mittelfrüh is the original German hop for lagers. It's named after the Hallertau region in central Bavaria. It was mostly replaced by Hersbrucker in the 1970s and 1980s because it was getting sick easily.
Hersbrucker
Hersbrucker is a noble hop used in German pale lagers.
Saaz
Saaz is named after the city of Saaz (now Žatec) in the Czech Republic. It's a noble hop used a lot to flavor light Czech lagers like Pilsner Urquell. It smells like cinnamon-spice and earth.
Tettnanger
Tettnanger is a noble German hop used for two purposes in European pale lagers and wheat drinks. It comes from Tettnang, a small town in southern Baden-Württemberg in Germany. This area grows a lot of hops and sends them all over the world.
Spalt
Spalt is a traditional German noble hop from the Spalter region. It smells woody.
Hops from Australia
Ella
Ella used to be called Stella. Its name changed in 2012. It's an Australian hop with high alpha acids. When used in small amounts, it smells like noble European hops, with floral notes. Larger amounts make it more fruity, with a hint of anise (like licorice).
Enigma
Enigma is an Australian hop with very high alpha acids, usually 16–19%. It came from the Swiss Tettnang hop and has a white grape and tropical fruit flavor.
Feux-Coeur Francais
Feux-Coeur Francais is a rare Australian hop that originally came from the Burgundy region of France. It has been specially grown to thrive in the cool weather of Victoria (Australia). It was first harvested in 2010.
Galaxy
Galaxy is an Australian hop that can be used for two purposes. It has a very clear and special hop smell, described as a mix of citrus and passionfruit. The smells and tastes are very strong at first but become milder as the drink gets older.
Pride of Ringwood
This hop is used by an Australian company called Carlton & United Breweries to make all their drinks bitter. It was created in 1953. It's special because it's the only hop developed by one company and mostly used by that same company. It has a strong smell and an earthy-citrus taste.
Summer
Summer is an Australian hop with low alpha acids, known for its smell. It gives clear light apricot and melon fruit smells.
Super Pride
Super Pride is a version of Pride of Ringwood with higher alpha acids. It was created in 1987.
Topaz
Topaz is an Australian hop with high alpha acids. It gives earthy smells similar to old English hops.
Vic Secret
Vic Secret was first sold in 2013. When used later in the brewing process, it tastes earthy with little fruit. If added after boiling, it gives pine and fruit flavors.
Hops from New Zealand
Green Bullet
Green Bullet was released in 1972. It's a common New Zealand hop for bitterness. It can also add a spicy smell, like Styrian hops, if added later.
Hallertau Aroma/Wakatu
Wakatu was released in 1988. It was developed as a hop for its smell. It smells floral with hints of lime zest.
Kohatu
Kohatu is a new hop with medium alpha acids. It smells like pine needles and tropical fruit.
Motueka
Motueka is a new hop from New Zealand. It's mainly used for flavor and smell. It smells like citrus, with clear lemon and lime, and a background of tropical fruit.
Nectaron
Nectaron is a hop developed in New Zealand. It has strong tropical fruit smells like pineapple and passionfruit, as well as stone fruit (peach) and citrus (grapefruit).
Nelson Sauvin
Nelson Sauvin is a new hop created in Nelson, New Zealand in 1987 and sold since 2000. It's named because it smells like the Sauvignon blanc grape. It has a very strong fruity taste and smell, especially like passionfruit. It's good for bitterness, flavor, and smell.
New Zealand Cascade
This hop came from an early US breeding program around 1956. It was the first hop grown for sale from that program, released in 1972.
Pacifica
Pacifica was released in 1994. It has a soft bitterness. Its smell is described as orange marmalade, citrus, and some floral qualities.
Pacific Gem
Pacific Gem was released in 1987. It's usually used for bitterness, but it's known for making drinks taste like oak with a clear blackberry smell when added later.
Pacific Jade
Pacific Jade is a hop from New Zealand with high alpha acids for bitterness and a soft taste. It smells like fresh citrus and black pepper.
Rakau
Rakau is a hop that can be used for two purposes, usually with alpha acids above 10%. It can be used for many additions, and when added later, it gives tropical fruit smells like passionfruit and peach.
Riwaka
Riwaka was released in 1997. It's known for a strong citrus smell and a lot of oil.
Southern Cross
Southern Cross is a mild bittering hop with high alpha acids. It smells like a mix of lemon peel and pine needles, with a clean spicy scent underneath.
Sticklebract
Sticklebract was developed in 1972. It smells like pine and citrus. It's good for American-style IPAs and pale ales.
Super Alpha
Super Alpha was released in 1976. It's most commonly a bittering hop, but it adds grassy smells if used later.
Wai-iti
Wai-iti is a new hop with low alpha acids and a strong citrus smell like mandarin, lemon, and lime zest.
Waimea
Waimea was released in 2012. It was chosen for its alpha acid production and can be used for two purposes. It has typical alpha acids of 16%.
Hops from Europe
Aalst
Aalst is a Belgian hop mentioned for its use in Lambic beer in the early 1800s.
Aramis
Aramis is a French hop used for bitterness and smell. It's a mix between Strisselspalt and Whitbread Golding Variety.
Bor
Bor is a mix of Saaz and Northern Brewer. It gives a spicy smell similar to Saaz.
Coigneau
Coigneau is a Belgian hop grown near Brussels in the 1800s and early 1900s. Because it wasn't very bitter, Coigneau was a favorite hop for Lambic beer.
Iunga
Iunga is a new hop from Poland, made from Northern Brewer and Marynka. It's mainly a bittering hop.
Lublin
Lublin is a Saaz hop grown in Poland, used in Polish lagers. It smells a little woody and spicy.
Marynka
Marynka is mainly a bittering hop. It gives earthy, licorice qualities when used for its smell.
Poperinge
Poperinge is a Belgian hop mentioned for its use in Lambic beer in the early 1800s.
Premiant
Premiant is a Saaz hop with high alpha acids. It gives similar spicy smells.
Sladek
Sladek is a mix of Northern Brewer and other Czech hops. It's similar to Czech Saaz.
Strisselspalt
Strisselspalt is a French hop from Alsace, mostly used in pale lagers. It has a floral and lemony smell and taste.
Styrian Aurora
Styrian Aurora is also known as Super Styrian. It smells similar to Styrian Golding.
Styrian Bobek
Styrian Bobek is a delicate, spicy hop for its smell, similar to Styrian Golding.
Styrian Celeia
Styrian Celeia gives a pleasant hop smell similar to other "Super Styrian" hops.
Styrian Golding
Styrian Golding is a Slovenian version of Fuggle, but it's similar to East Kent Goldings. It's used in English ales and strong Belgian ales.
Sybilla
Sybilla is a new hop from Poland. It's registered as a bittering hop but has a typical smell. It's a mix of Lublin and Slovenian Styrian Golding.
Tardif de Bourgogne
Tardif de Bourgogne is a French hop, used for its smell in European lagers.
Tomyski
Tomyski is a Polish hop used for its smell. It was used to make a drink called Grodziskie.
Hops from Japan
Sorachi Ace
Sorachi Ace is a Japanese hop that can be used for two purposes. It was used more often in 2008 when there were not enough hops in Western countries. It gives an unusual lemon, "bubblegum," and dill pickle taste.
Ornamental Hops
There's also a pale, pretty hop plant called Humulus lupulus 'Aurea' that people grow in gardens. It's also known as Golden Hop and has won an award for being a great garden plant.
Hop Varieties Table
| Name | Country | Alpha Acid % |
|---|---|---|
| Admiral | England | 13.5 - 16 |
| Ahtanum | U.S. | 5.7 - 6.3 |
| Amarillo | U.S. | 8 - 11 |
| Apollo | U.S. | 20 - 21 |
| Bramling Cross | England | 5 - 7 |
| Brewer's Gold | England | 7.1-11.3 |
| Bullion | England | 6.5-9 |
| Cascade | U.S. | 4.5-6 |
| Centennial | U.S. | 9.5-11.5 |
| Challenger | England | 6.5-8.5 |
| Chinook | U.S. | 12-14 |
| Citra | U.S. | 11-13 |
| Cluster | U.S. | 5.5-8.5 |
| Columbus | U.S. | 14-18 |
| Crystal | U.S. | 3.5-5.5 |
| Eroica | U.S. | 9-12 |
| First Gold | England | 6.5-8.5 |
| Feux-Coeur Francais | Australia | 3.1-5.5 |
| Fuggle | England | 4-5.5 |
| Galaxy | Australia | 14.9 |
| Galena | U.S. | 12-14 |
| Glacier | U.S. | 5.5 |
| Goldings | England | 4-5.5 |
| Green Bullet | New Zealand | 11-14 |
| Greenburg | U.S. | 5.2 |
| Hallertau / Hallertauer Mittelfrüh | Germany | 3.5-5.5 |
| Herald | England | 11-13 |
| Herkules | Germany | 12-17 |
| Hersbrucker | Germany | 3-5.5 |
| Horizon | U.S. | 11-13 |
| Liberty | U.S. | 3-5 |
| Lublin | Poland | 3-5 |
| Magnum | Germany | 11-16 |
| Merkur | Germany | 3.5-7 |
| Millennium | U.S. | 15.5 |
| Motueka | New Zealand | 6.5-7.5 |
| Mosaic | U.S. | 11.5-13.5 |
| Mount Hood | U.S. | 5-8 |
| Mount Rainier | U.S. | 6 |
| Nelson Sauvin | New Zealand | 12-14 |
| Newport | U.S. | 10-17 |
| Northdown | England | 7.5-9.5 |
| Northern Brewer | England | 8-10 |
| Nugget | U.S. | 12-14 |
| Opal | Germany | 3.5-5.5 |
| Pacifica | New Zealand | 5-6 |
| Pacific Gem | New Zealand | 14-16 |
| Pacific Jade | New Zealand | 12-14 |
| Palisade | U.S. | 6-10 |
| Perle | Germany | 6-10 |
| Phoenix | England | 9-13 |
| Pilgrim | England | 9-13 |
| Pilot | England | 9-12 |
| Pioneer | England | 8-10 |
| Polnischer Lublin | Poland | 3-4.5 |
| Pride of Ringwood | Australia | 7-10 |
| Progress | England | 5-7 |
| Riwaka | New Zealand | 4.5-6.5 |
| Saaz | Czech Republic | 3-4.5 |
| Saaz Late | Czech Republic | 3.5-6 |
| Bor | Czech Republic | 6-9 |
| Premiant | Czech Republic | 7-10 |
| Rubin | Czech Republic | 9-12 |
| Agnus | Czech Republic | 12 - 14 |
| Vital | Czech Republic | 12-16 |
| Sladek | Czech Republic | 4.5-8 |
| Kazbek | Czech Republic | 5-8 |
| Bohemie | Czech Republic | 5-8 |
| Harmonie | Czech Republic | 5-8 |
| San Juan Ruby Red | U.S. | 7.01 |
| Santiam | U.S. | 5-7 |
| Saphir | Germany | 2-4.5 |
| Satus | U.S. | 12.5-14 |
| Select | Germany | 4-6 |
| Simcoe | U.S. | 12-14 |
| Smaragd | Germany | 3.5-5.5 |
| Sorachi Ace | Japan | 10-16 |
| Southern Cross | New Zealand | 11-14 |
| Spalt | Germany | 4-5 |
| Sterling | U.S. | 6-9 |
| Strisselspalt | France | 3-5 |
| Styrian Aurora | Slovenia | 7-9.5 |
| Styrian Bobek | Slovenia | 3.5-7 |
| Styrian Goldings | Slovenia | 4.5-6 |
| Styrian Celeia | Slovenia | 3-6 |
| Summit | U.S. | 17-19 |
| Tardif de Bourgogne | France | 3.1-5.5 |
| Target | England | 9.5-12.5 |
| Taurus | Germany | 12-17 |
| Tettnang | Germany | 3.5-5.5 |
| Tomahawk | U.S. | 14-18 |
| Tomyski | Poland | 2.5-4 |
| Tradition | Germany | 5-7 |
| Ultra | U.S. | 4.5-5 |
| Vanguard | U.S. | 5.5-6 |
| Waimea | New Zealand | 16-19 |
| Warrior | U.S. | 15-17 |
| Whitbread Golding Variety (WGV) | England | 5-8 |
| Willamette | U.S. | 4-6 |
| Zeus | U.S. | 15 |
