Hop substitution guide
BrewCo Homebrew Resource
Can't find the hop your recipe calls for? Every variety has a flavour cousin. This guide covers all the hops we stock — with flavour profiles, best beer styles, and direct links to buy.
Alpha Acid %
Determines bittering potential. Higher % = more bitterness per gram. Use less of a high-alpha hop to hit the same IBUs from a lower-alpha variety.
Scaling Substitutions
To match IBUs when swapping: (original weight × original AA%) ÷ substitute AA% = new weight. Aroma and flavour will still differ.
Bittering vs Aroma
Hops at 60 min = bitterness. Hops at 10 min or less = aroma and flavour. Dry hops (no boil) = pure aroma, zero bitterness.
Storing Hops
Our pellets come nitrogen-flushed and sealed. Once opened, fold tightly and freeze. Sealed: 12–18 months. Opened: use within 3 months.
One of the most popular American hops. Massive fruity punch at any addition — outstanding as a dry hop in hazy and citrus-forward pale ales.
A versatile Slovenian dual-purpose hop with mild, pleasant bitterness. Often used as a substitute for Styrian Golding in continental recipes.
A classic English variety bred from Goldings. Its distinctive blackcurrant character shines in winter warmers and traditional bitters. Great for late additions.
Primarily a bittering hop with an intense blackcurrant aroma. Excellent in robust dark beers. A classic English variety dating from the 1930s.
The hop that built American craft brewing — Sierra Nevada Pale Ale made it famous. Works brilliantly at every addition point from bittering to dry hop.
Known as "super Cascade" — higher alpha, more floral character. A staple of American IPA. Clean bittering without harshness. Great dual-purpose hop.
A quintessential English brewing hop. Clean, restrained bittering with a spicy, slightly cedar edge. Widely used commercially in traditional British ales.
Big bittering power with a distinctively piney, smoky character. Perfect for bold West Coast IPAs and aggressive stouts. Use sparingly as a late addition.
One of the most intensely aromatic hops in the world. Exceptional as a dry hop for hazy, juice-forward IPAs. A little goes a very long way — use with care.
High alpha with a pungent, pleasant aroma. Part of the CTZ family (Columbus/Tomahawk/Zeus) — interchangeable in most recipes. Excellent bittering hop.
Formerly known as Equinox. Unique fruit-forward variety with an unusual vegetal complexity. Superb for hazy and fruited beers, especially paired with Mosaic or Citra.
An exciting English variety with unusually citrusy, tropical notes. A brilliant alternative to American hops in English-style pale ales — heritage character, modern flair.
The quintessential English hop, developed in Kent in 1875. Low alpha, gentle character — the backbone of countless traditional British ales. Pairs perfectly with Goldings.
Australia's most celebrated hop. Overwhelmingly tropical and juicy — a dominant force in modern NEIPA and hazy pale ales. Outstanding as a dry hop, alone or with Citra.
Bred in Kent since the 1790s — the most prestigious English hops. Exquisitely delicate and fragrant. The hallmark of traditional British cask ales. Pair with Fuggles.
A Hallertau variety with strikingly fruity citrus notes unusual for a German hop. Excellent for modern lagers and wheat beers with a fruity twist. Good late addition.
Complex and multi-layered — the name fits. Often described as "all the tropical fruits at once." A favourite for hazy IPAs alongside Citra. Outstanding dry-hop variety.
A softer alternative to Goldings with a distinctly mild, slightly minty edge. Common in English country ales and bitters. Try Goldings or Fuggles as a direct substitute.
The definitive noble hop — it is Pilsner Urquell and Budvar. Low alpha, extremely refined aroma. No serious pilsner brewer would use anything else. Use generously for aroma.
A dual-purpose workhorse and aroma superstar. Unique combination of resinous pine and tropical passion fruit makes it endlessly versatile. A go-to for West Coast IPAs.
One of the highest alpha acid hops available — very economical. Avoid late additions as Summit can produce onion/garlic notes when used for aroma. Outstanding bittering hop.
The English high-alpha workhorse. Intensely aromatic with a pleasant English character. Widely used as a copper/bittering hop in traditional UK commercial brewing.
A traditional German noble hop from Tettnang. Mild and clean with a gentle spicy note. The go-to hop for authentic German wheat beers and lagers. Use generously.
The American cousin of Fuggles — similar DNA, slightly more floral and fruity. A great choice if you want Fuggle character with a little more brightness and freshness.
Browse all 26 hop varieties — English, American, New World & European. T90 pellets from £5.99, nitrogen-flushed for freshness.
Shop All Hops at BrewCoCommon hop swaps: quick answers
Can you substitute hops in a recipe? Yes. Swapping hops is common and usually works well. For bittering additions, match the alpha acid. For late and dry hop additions, match the flavour and aroma. A perfect match isn't always possible, but a close one usually gives an excellent beer.
What can I use instead of Citra?
The closest swaps for Citra are Mosaic (tropical and berry, a little earthier), Galaxy (passion fruit and citrus) or Simcoe (pine and citrus, more resinous). Centennial works as a partial swap: less tropical, but with a similar citrus character.
What can I use instead of Centennial?
Cascade is the usual swap: softer and lower in alpha acid, with a similar floral citrus character. Citra can stand in at a lower rate for aroma but adds more tropical fruit. Summit works for bittering at a reduced rate because of its higher alpha acid.
What can I use instead of Fuggles?
Willamette is the closest American equivalent: earthy, herbal and mildly floral. For a British swap, Goldings works well in bitters and milds, though it's a little more refined and less earthy.
What can I use instead of Target?
For a British bittering hop, Challenger is a close alternative. Summit is a high-alpha option, though more citrusy. Where Target is used more gently, Willamette or Fuggles can stand in at a higher rate.
General rules
- Bittering additions: match the alpha acid. If you swap a 10% alpha hop for a 5% one, double the weight.
- Aroma additions: match the flavour profile (citrus, tropical, earthy, floral). The weight can stay about the same.
- Dry hopping: match the aroma. A 1:1 swap by weight usually works well.
For more on technique, see our dry hopping guide, or use the hop substitution tool.