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Bullion Hops

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Bullion hops are a type of hop plant that was bred in 1919 at Wye College, England. It is a sister selection to Brewer’s Gold and originates from a wild hop cutting from Manitoba, Canada. Bullion hops are known for their high alpha acid content and ability to produce a heavy crop of large cones. They feature zesty, herbal, and spicy flavors with predominantly dark red fruit notes, similar to blackcurrant.

Bullion hops were once prevalent in professional brewing circles but have since had their production capacity slashed in favor of super-alpha varieties with more significant bittering potential and storage stability. Despite declining popularity, they are still used in brewing, particularly for darker beers.

Usage:Dual-Purpose
Country of Origin:United States
Hop Growers Code:Q43

Where To Buy Bullion Hops

Bullion Hops
Amazon
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Bullion Flavor And Aroma

Bullion is a dual-purpose hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:

berries

blackcurrant

spices

spicy

herbal

herbal

Bullion 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.
5.3% – 12.5%
Beta Acid %
Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds.
4.5% – 6.5%
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.
1:1 – 3:1
Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha
Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness.
47% – 50%
Total Oils (mL/100g)
With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds.
1.0mL – 2mL
Myrcene
green, resinous
40% – 55%
Humulene
woody, piney
15% – 25%
Caryophyllene
woody
9% – 14%
Farnesene
floral
0% – 1%
Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene5% – 36%
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).
Data Not Available
Hop Storage Index (HSI) RatingData Not Available

Bullion 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 Bullion, 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 Bullion 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