Centennial (T90 Pellet) is a highly regarded American aroma hop, developed from the USDA hop breeding programme in Washington State and named after the Washington State centennial festival. It delivers strong floral and citrus aromas — think lemon zest and grapefruit blossom — with moderate to high alpha acids that make it useful as both a bittering and aroma hop.
Alpha Acids: 9–11% | Beta Acids: 3–4%
A core hop for American pale ales and IPAs, especially as a late addition or dry hop.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between Centennial and Cascade hops?
- Centennial is often called a "super Cascade" — it shares Cascade's floral and citrus character but with significantly higher alpha acids (9–11% vs 4–7%) and a more intense aroma. Centennial has a bolder grapefruit and lemon character, while Cascade is slightly softer and more broadly floral.
- What beer styles suit Centennial hops?
- Centennial is a core American IPA hop. It works brilliantly in American pale ales, IPAs, double IPAs, and amber ales. Its clean citrus and floral character also works well in American-style wheat beers and session ales.
- How much Centennial should I use?
- For a 23-litre American IPA at 50–60 IBUs, use 30–40g at 60 minutes for bittering, 20g at 10 minutes for late aroma, and 40–60g as a dry hop for 3–4 days. For a pale ale, reduce all additions by around 30%.
- Can I use Centennial with Citra?
- Centennial and Citra are a classic combination. Centennial provides the citrus-pine structure and bittering backbone; Citra adds the tropical fruit intensity. Together they produce some of the most popular American IPA profiles. Use Centennial early in the boil and Citra late and dry.
- Is Centennial good for beginners?
- Yes — Centennial is one of the most forgiving and versatile American hops. It's less intense than Citra, more predictable than Galaxy, and delivers consistently good results across a wide range of addition timings. An ideal first American hop for extract and kit brewers.