Azacca is the hop that replaced Amarillo in my session IPA recipe after I found a supplier had it in stock at a reasonable price and tried it on a whim.
Summit is a hop variety I treat with specific caution — it’s one of the most alpha-acid-efficient American varieties available, but it has a known tendency to produce onion and garlic flavors at late addition rates that can ruin an …
Warrior is my go-to clean bittering hop for any recipe where I want neutral, smooth IBUs without any flavor contribution from the bittering addition.
Nugget is the reliable bittering hop I’ve kept in my hop freezer for years because it’s nearly always available, relatively inexpensive, and produces consistent smooth bittering with a mild herbal character that works in a surprisingly wide range of
Hüll Melon is the German hop variety I reach for when I want intense melon character in a beer that still feels European rather than American craft.
Mandarina Bavaria is the German hop that changed how I think about using continental varieties in modern craft beer.
Hallertau Blanc is the German hop variety that surprised me most when I first dry hopped a saison with it — the white wine and gooseberry character was more prominent than I expected, genuinely wine-like in a way that few …
Vic Secret is the Australian hop that delivers the most intense pineapple character I’ve found in a non-specialty variety.
Ekuanot is the hop that gave my NEIPA the melon and berry complexity I was looking for after Citra and Mosaic produced a good beer that felt predictable.
East Kent Goldings is the hop that defines what I mean when I say a beer tastes “British.” I’ve been brewing English ales for over a decade and EKG is in nearly every one of them — the floral, earthy, …