Calypso is a hop variety that originated in the Yakima Valley and is characterized as a dual-purpose diploid hop with Hopsteiner lineage on both sides. It has a high alpha acid percentage, but its origins focus on the aroma.
Calypso’s flavor profile is fruity, with notes of apple, pear, tropical fruit, and melon, and it has a soft floral aroma with hints of dried apple, pear, and citrus. It is a versatile hop that can be used in various beer styles, from Pale Ales and IPAs to Stouts, British Bitters, and Barleywines.
Overall, Calypso is a unique and complex hop that offers a broad spectrum of specific descriptors and is well-suited for experimentation in brewing.
| Usage: | Dual-Purpose |
| Country of Origin: | United States |
| Hop Growers Code: | CPO #03129 |
Where To Buy Calypso Hops
Calypso Flavor And Aroma
Calypso is a dual-purpose hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
tropical fruit
stone fruit, peach
berry
Calypso 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. | 12% – 14% |
| Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 5% – 6% |
| 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 – 3:1 |
| Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness. | 40% – 42% |
| Total Oils (mL/100g) With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds. | 1.5mL – 2.5mL |
| Myrcene green, resinous | 30% – 45% |
| Humulene woody, piney | 20% – 35% |
| Caryophyllene woody | 9% – 15% |
| Farnesene floral | 0% – 1% |
| Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 4% – 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). | Retains 66% of its alpha acid after 6 months of storage at 20ºC (68ºF). |
| Hop Storage Index (HSI) Rating | Fair |
Calypso 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 Calypso, 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 Calypso 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
