Bitter Gold hops are a high alpha acid hop variety first cultivated in the United States in the 1970s. It was developed by the USDA breeding program and was released for commercial cultivation in 1984. Bitter Gold hops are grown primarily in the United States, specifically in the Pacific Northwest region, where the ideal growing conditions for hops can be found.
Regarding aroma and flavor characteristics, Bitter Gold hops are known for their strong bittering properties, with an alpha acid content of around 12-15%. They have a strong, clean bittering profile, a slightly floral, fruity aroma, and a hint of citrus.
Bitter Gold hops are often a bittering hop in beer brewing but can also be used for aroma and flavor. They are often used in American-style ales, lagers, and India Pale Ales (IPAs). They can also be used in Belgian-style beers, wheat beers, and pilsners.
Usage: | Bittering |
Country of Origin: | United States |
Hop Growers Code: | 7313-083 |
Where To Buy Bitter Gold Hops
Bitter Gold Flavor And Aroma
Bitter Gold is a bittering hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
citrus
grassy
stone fruit
Bitter Gold Hop Oil Breakdown
Hop oils can vary from year to year and farm to farm but based on our research, here are the typical values we have seen reported. This information comes from various hop farms, The Hop Aroma Compendium, and For The Love Of Hops.
Alpha Acid % (AA) Alpha acids are what is isomerized when boiling to create bitterness in beer. | 15.4% – 18.8% |
Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 6.1% – 8% |
Alpha-Beta Ratio This ratio of alpha acids to beta acids determines how quickly bitterness fades during aging. Lower ratios are common for aromatic varieties. | 2:1 – 4:1 |
Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness. | 36% – 41% |
Total Oils (mL/100g) With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds. | 0.81mL – 3.92mL |
Myrcene green, resinous | 68.2% |
Humulene woody, piney | 7.5% |
Caryophyllene woody | 8.4% |
Farnesene floral | 1.2% |
Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 1% – 41% |
Hop Storage Index (HSI) The HSI indicates the percent of alpha and beta acids lost after 6 months of storage at room temperature (68°F or 20°C). | Information Not Available. |
Hop Storage Index (HSI) Rating | Information Not Available. |
Bitter Gold Hop Substitutions
Replacing one hop for another is seldom straightforward but sometimes you don’t have the right hop or the right quantity of hops for the beer you want to make. For those situations, we have made a comprehensive list of hops to substitute on brew day.
These substitutions aren’t perfect as hop chemistry is pretty complex.
We wanted to make this list of substitutions with varietals that are easy to find when possible. For Bitter Gold, we recommend substituting with the following hops:
Beer Styles
For the most part, any hop could have a place in just about any beer style. Based on popular beers, historical usage, and our own preferences, we would recommend using Bitter Gold for IPA, New England IPA, Pale Ale, Wheat Beer, Golden Ale. That being said, experiment and see what works best for you.
References
https://www.hopslist.com/
https://www.ars.usda.gov/
https://www.brewersassociation.org/
https://www.barthhaasx.com/
https://www.yakimachief.com/
Hieronymus, Stan. For The Love of Hops. Brewers Publications, 2012
The Hop Aroma Compendium. 2012