Find the best Ella hop substitutes with Australian floral and spice character. Discover international alternatives for pale ales, IPAs, and lagers.
Planning that unique floral-spiced pale ale with Ella hops only to discover they’re sold out at your supplier? I’ve faced that exact frustration more times than I care to count in my brewing career. This distinctive Australian hop has developed a dedicated following for its unique floral-spice-star anise character with surprisingly high alpha acids, creating demand that occasionally exceeds availability from limited Australian production. The good news? Several Australian, European, and American hop varieties can replicate those distinctive floral, spice, and subtle tropical notes that make Ella essential for refined hop-forward beers.
Finding the right Ella hop substitute requires understanding what makes this hop special beyond just being Australian. It’s about capturing that distinctive combination of delicate floral character, complex spice notes reminiscent of star anise, and subtle tropical fruit with high alpha acids that creates sophisticated complexity. After brewing with Ella and testing various alternatives over the past eight years, I’ve identified which substitutes actually deliver on their floral-spice promises and which fall disappointingly short when refined Australian character matters.
This guide explores proven alternatives that maintain your beer’s intended flavor profile while offering interesting variations. Whether you’re brewing an Australian pale ale, pilsner, or Belgian-style ale, you’ll find practical solutions that work.
Understanding Ella’s Floral-Spice Complexity
Ella emerged in 2007 from Hop Products Australia breeding as cross of Spalt with an Australian male. This aroma hop delivers floral, spice, star anise, tropical, and candied characteristics with surprisingly high alpha acids of 13-16%. What distinguishes Ella from other floral hops is its remarkably complex spice profile featuring distinctive star anise notes combined with delicate floral character and subtle tropical fruit backed by unexpectedly high bittering power.
The hop’s development represented Australian breeding’s emphasis on unique aromatic hops. Ella’s high alpha acids provide excellent bittering efficiency while its refined floral-spice-anise character creates sophisticated complexity when used in late additions where homebrewing equipment can showcase delicate aromatics.
When I first brewed with Ella in an Australian pale ale six years ago, the delicate floral aroma with star anise spice and subtle tropical backing created exactly the refined, sophisticated character I sought. That complex, layered quality is Ella’s magic – distinctive enough to create uniqueness yet balanced enough to maintain drinkability.
Top Ella Hop Substitute Options
Styrian Goldings: European Floral-Spicy
Styrian Goldings stands as a logical Ella substitute for brewers seeking floral-spicy European character. This Slovenian variety delivers earthy, spicy, herbal, floral, and noble-like characteristics with lower alpha acids of 4.5-6% that create refined profiles.
Named after the Styria region of Slovenia, Styrian Goldings (actually Fuggle cultivar) shares emphasis on refined floral-spicy character. While offering lower alpha acids and more pronounced earthy notes, Styrian Goldings’ balanced floral-spicy profile creates alternatives when European noble-like refinement matters.
When substituting Styrian Goldings for Ella, use approximately 2-3× as much by weight to compensate for significantly lower alpha acids. The beer’s character shifts toward earthy-spicy European rather than floral-anise Australian, creating traditional profiles. Use Styrian Goldings when you want refined European character from the Brewers Association standards.
Galaxy: Australian Tropical Powerhouse
Galaxy brings passion fruit, peach, citrus, and tropical characteristics with high alpha acids of 13-15% that match Ella’s range closely. This Australian variety provides bold Southern Hemisphere tropical character with convenient alpha acid matching.
Released from Hop Products Australia breeding, Galaxy shares Ella’s Australian heritage and similar alpha acid range. While emphasizing bold passion fruit-peach over delicate floral-spice, Galaxy’s vibrant Australian profile creates alternatives when powerful tropical character with high bittering efficiency matters.
Use approximately equal weights when substituting Galaxy for Ella thanks to similar alpha acids. The beer maintains Australian high-alpha character while shifting dramatically toward bold passion fruit-tropical rather than refined floral-spice-anise, creating modern Aussie hop-forward profiles.
Hallertau Mittelfrüh: German Noble Floral
Hallertau Mittelfrüh delivers floral, spicy, herbal, mild, and noble characteristics with low alpha acids of 3-5.5%. This legendary German variety provides refined floral-spicy character similar to Ella’s complexity with traditional noble heritage.
Named after the Hallertau region of Bavaria, Mittelfrüh represents classic German noble brewing. While lacking Ella’s high alpha acids and star anise character, Hallertau’s refined floral-spicy profile creates alternatives when traditional noble refinement matters more than high bittering efficiency.
When substituting Hallertau Mittelfrüh for Ella, use approximately 3-4× as much by weight to compensate for dramatically lower alpha acids. The beer’s character shifts toward traditional German noble floral-spicy rather than Australian floral-anise, creating elegant European profiles.
Mt. Hood: American Noble-Type Floral
Mt. Hood offers spicy, herbal, floral, mild, and noble-like characteristics with moderate alpha acids of 5-8%. This American variety bred from Hallertau provides floral-spicy character with better alpha acid matching than European nobles.
Released by USDA breeding from Hallertau Mittelfrüh, Mt. Hood shares emphasis on floral-spicy noble-like character. While lacking Ella’s star anise specificity, Mt. Hood’s clean floral-spicy profile creates alternatives when American-grown noble-type hops with moderate alpha acids matter.
Use approximately 1.75-2.5× as much Mt. Hood by weight when substituting for Ella to compensate for lower alpha acids. The beer maintains floral-spicy character with cleaner American expression rather than complex Australian star anise, creating accessible noble-like profiles.
Tettnang: German Floral-Earthy Noble
Tettnang brings spicy, floral, herbal, earthy, and noble characteristics with low alpha acids of 3.5-5.5%. This German noble hop provides refined floral-spicy character with traditional European heritage.
Named after the Tettnang region, this traditional German noble shares emphasis on refined floral-spicy character. While offering low alpha acids, Tettnang’s balanced floral-earthy profile creates alternatives when traditional German noble character with gentle refinement matters.
When substituting Tettnang for Ella, use approximately 3-4× as much by weight to compensate for dramatically lower alpha acids. The beer’s character shifts toward German noble floral-earthy rather than Australian floral-anise, creating traditional European elegance.
Amarillo: American Citrus-Floral
Amarillo delivers orange, lemon, grapefruit, floral, and tropical characteristics with moderate-high alpha acids of 8-11%. This American variety provides citrus-floral-tropical character with reduced alpha acid gap.
Released from Virgil Gamache Farms breeding, Amarillo shares emphasis on floral-tropical character. While offering moderately lower alpha acids and emphasizing citrus over spice, Amarillo’s clean floral-tropical profile creates alternatives when American hop character with citrus brightness matters.
Use approximately 1.5-2× as much Amarillo by weight when substituting for Ella to compensate for lower alpha acids. The beer’s character shifts toward American citrus-floral rather than Australian spice-anise, creating bright hop-forward profiles.
Blending Strategies for Complete Substitution
The 50/50 Australian Blend
My most successful Ella replacement combines 50% Galaxy with 50% Styrian Goldings. This blend captures Galaxy’s Australian tropical character while Styrian Goldings adds floral-spicy European complexity approximating Ella’s complete floral-spice-tropical profile. The combination creates more layered character than either hop alone.
Calculate your total hop bill first, then split according to this ratio for all additions. Use increased quantities (approximately 1.5-2× original Ella amounts) to compensate for lower combined alpha acids while achieving complex Australian-European character.
The Noble-Like Approach
For refined floral-spicy character, blend 60% Mt. Hood with 40% Hallertau Mittelfrüh. This combination emphasizes Mt. Hood’s American noble-type character while Hallertau adds traditional German floral refinement.
Use increased quantities (approximately 2-2.5× original Ella amounts) to compensate for lower combined alpha acids. The noble-like character creates elegant alternatives when refined floral-spicy matters more than high bittering efficiency.
Single-Hop Simplicity
Sometimes simplicity wins. For straightforward beers where Australian high-alpha matters most, Galaxy alone provides closest alpha acid matching at equivalent weights. The hop’s bold tropical nature creates compelling alternatives when Aussie character defines the recipe.
For beers demanding noble-like refinement, Mt. Hood by itself works at increased quantities. The hop’s clean floral-spicy nature creates accessible alternatives when American-grown noble-type character suffices.
Beer Style Considerations
Australian Pale Ales and IPAs
These Southern Hemisphere styles showcase Ella beautifully. Galaxy works exceptionally well as substitute, providing authentic Australian character that defines Aussie brewing with convenient alpha acid matching.
Use generous hopping rates (2-3.5 oz per gallon total) with substantial bittering (45-65 IBUs) and aggressive late additions and dry hopping. Australian brewing demonstrates that bold hopping creates signature character.
Pilsners and Lagers
Clean lager styles showcase Mt. Hood, Tettnang, or Hallertau Mittelfrüh where refined floral-spicy character with moderate bittering creates elegant alternatives to Ella’s complexity.
Use moderate hopping rates (1-1.75 oz per gallon total) with restrained bittering (25-38 IBUs) and gentle late additions. Clean lagers benefit from hop refinement where subtle character supports rather than dominates.
Belgian-Style Ales
Belgian ales showcase Styrian Goldings or Amarillo where complex floral-spicy or citrus-floral character complements Belgian yeast esters and spicy phenols.
Keep total hop rates moderate (1-2.5 oz per gallon) allowing yeast character to remain prominent while floral-spicy hops add complementary complexity when brewing craft beer with Belgian traditions.
Here is the comparison chart:
Ella Hop Substitute Comparison Chart – Alpha Acids, Flavors, and Beer Style Compatibility
Timing Your Hop Additions for Floral-Spice Character
Substantial Bittering (60 Minutes)
Ella’s high alpha acids (13-16%) create excellent bittering efficiency. Use Ella substitutes at 60 minutes to establish baseline bitterness, adjusting quantities based on alpha acid differences.
I typically use 0.75-1.5 oz per gallon at 60 minutes with Ella substitutes (adjusted for alpha acids) to establish baseline bitterness around 35-55 IBUs appropriate for pale ales and IPAs. The efficient bittering creates foundations for aromatic complexity.
Flavor Additions (10-20 Minutes)
This window captures floral-spice character beautifully. All Ella substitutes excel here, releasing distinctive aromatics that integrate smoothly.
Add 0.75-1.5 oz per gallon at 15 minutes for hop-forward styles. This timing extracts maximum flavor while preserving delicate floral-spice aromatics that define refined brewing.
Late Additions and Whirlpool
The final 5 minutes and whirlpool at 170-180°F for 20-30 minutes maximize floral-spice-anise character while controlling bitterness. This technique suits all Ella substitutes by preserving delicate complexity.
Use generous whirlpool quantities (1-2 oz per gallon) for modern pale ales and lagers. The controlled temperature extracts aromatics while limiting additional bitterness.
Moderate Dry Hopping
Dry hopping extracts pure floral-spice aromatics without bitterness. Add hops when fermentation is 75% complete (around day 3-4) to maximize biotransformation.
Use moderate-generous dry hop quantities (2-3 oz per gallon for IPAs, 1-2 oz per gallon for pale ales, 0.5-1 oz per gallon for lagers). Ella and substitutes benefit from 3-5 day contact time for optimal floral-spice extraction.
Adjusting for Alpha Acids and Character
Understanding Ella’s High-Alpha Profile
Ella’s high alpha acids (13-16%) create excellent bittering efficiency unusual for floral-spice varieties. Most substitutes have lower alpha acids requiring significant quantity increases.
Use this formula: (Ella AA% ÷ Substitute AA%) × Original Amount = Substitute Amount. For example: (14.5% ÷ 5.5%) × 1 oz = 2.64 oz of Tettnang needed to replace 1 oz of Ella for equivalent bitterness.
Oil Content and Aromatic Complexity
Ella’s substantial oil content creates distinctive floral-spice-anise character. Substitutes with different oil compositions emphasize different flavors – Galaxy provides tropical-passion fruit, Styrian Goldings adds earthy-spicy, and Amarillo contributes citrus-floral complexity.
Water Chemistry for Refined Expression
Moderate Sulfate for Balance
Floral-spice brewing utilizes moderate sulfate profiles (100-200 ppm) that accentuate hop character without harsh edges inappropriate for refined brewing.
For Ella substitutes in pale ales, target sulfate-to-chloride ratios of 1.5:1 to 2:1. This mineral balance supports floral-spice character while maintaining smooth drinkability.
Soft Water for Lagers
For pilsners and lagers, soft water with low minerals allows delicate floral-spice to express without interference. Target sulfate and chloride both below 100 ppm for maximum refinement.
Yeast Strain Synergies
Clean Ale Yeast
For hop-forward styles, exceptionally clean yeasts (WLP001/US-05, Wyeast 1056) provide neutral canvases where floral-spice-anise character dominates.
Ferment at moderate temperatures (66-68°F) to minimize yeast-derived flavors. The clean profile lets Ella substitutes’ complexity express fully.
Belgian Yeast Complement
For Belgian ales, Belgian yeasts (WLP550, Wyeast 3787) create complementary spicy-fruity esters that enhance rather than clash with floral-spice hop character.
Ferment at appropriate temperatures (68-75°F) encouraging characteristic Belgian esters while allowing floral-spice hops to add complementary complexity.
Sourcing and Availability
Ella Accessibility
Ella enjoys moderate availability through Australian hop suppliers and specialty importers. When available, expect premium pricing ($16-24 per pound) for imported Australian hops.
The hop’s unique floral-spice-anise character maintains interest among brewers seeking distinctive aromatic profiles with high bittering efficiency.
Substitute Availability
Galaxy faces similar availability and pricing as Ella through specialty importers. European nobles (Styrian Goldings, Hallertau Mittelfrüh, Tettnang) maintain good availability through European hop suppliers at moderate-premium pricing ($14-22 per pound). American varieties (Mt. Hood, Amarillo) stock reliably through domestic suppliers at competitive prices ($10-16 per pound).
Storage Best Practices
Store all hops in oxygen-barrier bags in your freezer at 0°F or below. Delicate floral-spice aromatics are vulnerable to oxidation and should be used within 6-9 months for peak character.
Common Substitution Mistakes
Using Bold American Citrus Hops
Substituting Ella with aggressive American citrus hops completely misses refined floral-spice character. Floral-spice hop substitution requires varieties emphasizing delicate complexity rather than bold citrus-pine.
Wrong Alpha Acid Calculations
Failing to adjust quantities when using lower-alpha substitutes creates insufficient bitterness. Always calculate substitution amounts based on alpha acid ratios.
Over-Hopping Refined Styles
Using aggressive modern hopping rates in refined floral-spice styles creates hop-bomb character inappropriate for sophisticated brewing. Traditional approaches demonstrate that restraint creates elegance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest substitute for Ella hops?
Galaxy provides closest alpha acid match with similar high range (13-15%) and Australian heritage, though emphasizing tropical-passion fruit over floral-spice. Mt. Hood offers best floral-spicy match with moderate alpha acids (5-8%) requiring increased quantities (approximately 2× Ella amounts). Blend 50% Galaxy with 50% Styrian Goldings for most complete floral-spice-tropical approximation.
Can I use just one hop instead of Ella?
Yes, single-hop substitutions work depending on priorities. Galaxy excels in Australian pale ales with convenient alpha acid matching. Mt. Hood suits refined styles emphasizing floral-spicy noble-like character. Amarillo works in American interpretations with citrus-floral brightness. Choose based on desired character and alpha acid requirements.
How much substitute hop should I use compared to Ella?
For Galaxy (14% AA) replacing Ella (14.5% AA), use approximately 1.04× the amount for equivalent bitterness. For Mt. Hood (6.5% AA), use about 2.23× original amounts. For Hallertau Mittelfrüh (4.5% AA), use roughly 3.22× Ella quantities. Adjust based on specific alpha acid percentages using the formula provided.
Do these substitutes work in all beer styles?
Ella substitutes adapt well across refined and hop-forward styles. Galaxy suits Australian pale ales and IPAs. Mt. Hood, Tettnang, and Hallertau Mittelfrüh excel in lagers and pilsners. Styrian Goldings and Amarillo work in Belgian ales and American pale ales. Avoid using exclusively in aggressive American IPAs where bold citrus-pine dominates.
When should I add these hops during brewing?
Use substantial bittering additions (0.75-1.5 oz per gallon at 60 minutes, adjusted for alpha acids) establishing firm bitterness (35-55 IBUs). Generous flavor additions (0.75-1.5 oz per gallon at 15 minutes) add floral-spice character. Substantial whirlpool (1-2 oz per gallon) maximizes aromatics. Moderate dry hopping (2-3 oz per gallon for IPAs) creates refined complexity.
Will my beer taste exactly the same with substitutes?
No substitute perfectly replicates Ella’s exact floral-spice-star anise combination with high Australian alpha efficiency, but well-chosen alternatives create equally sophisticated character. Galaxy emphasizes tropical-passion fruit, Mt. Hood provides noble-like floral-spicy, and Styrian Goldings adds earthy-spicy European complexity.
Where can I buy these substitute hops?
Major online suppliers like Yakima Valley Hops, Northern Brewer, and BSG Craft Brewing stock some Ella substitutes. Australian hops (Galaxy) available through specialty importers with varying availability. European nobles maintain good availability through hop specialists. American varieties stock reliably with excellent year-round availability.
How should I store substitute hops?
Store all hops in oxygen-barrier packaging (vacuum-sealed mylar bags) in freezer at 0°F or below. Delicate floral-spice aromatics maintain quality for 6-9 months frozen with gradual degradation. Use freshest hops for late additions and dry hopping where refined character matters most.
Making Your Final Choice
Selecting the perfect Ella hop substitute depends on your beer style, desired complexity, and hop availability. Galaxy offers closest alpha acid matching for brewers seeking Australian character in pale ales and IPAs where high bittering efficiency with bold flavor defines the beer.
Mt. Hood provides refined American alternative for brewers seeking floral-spicy noble-like character in lagers and pilsners where delicate complexity with moderate alpha acids matters.
Styrian Goldings delivers European refinement for brewers seeking traditional floral-spicy character in Belgian ales and ESBs where earthy-spicy noble-like complexity matters more than high bittering efficiency.
Remember that exceptional refined beer comes from understanding complex hop character and using appropriate varieties for your style goals. Ella substitutions capture floral-spice sophistication while adapting to ingredient availability.
Don’t be afraid to blend Australian and European varieties for complete character, embrace Galaxy for convenient alpha matching, or explore noble-type hops when refined floral-spicy matters most. The brewing community continues proving that thoughtful substitution creates sophisticated results.
Whether you’re crafting an Australian pale ale, refined pilsner, or Belgian-style ale, these Ella substitutes will help you create exceptional beer that captures floral-spice-anise character. Trust proper calculations, brew with balanced hopping rates, and embrace the refined complexity that makes floral-spice brewing so distinctive and rewarding.
About the Author
John Brewster is a passionate homebrewer with over a decade of experience experimenting with different beer styles and hop varieties, with particular expertise in Australian hops and refined floral-spice brewing. He has brewed over 350 original recipes featuring Southern Hemisphere styles and maintains relationships with specialty hop suppliers worldwide. John holds brewing certifications and regularly contributes articles about hop selection and complex aromatic brewing techniques to homebrewing forums and clubs. When not brewing, John enjoys exploring Australian pale ales and teaching workshops focused on refined, aromatic brewing. Connect with him on Instagram for weekly Australian hop insights and floral-spice brewing tips.