Chelan hops are a hop variety developed by John I Haas, Inc. and released in 1994. These hops are similar to the Galena hop variety but have a higher alpha acid content. Chelan hops are known for their fruity, citrus, and floral aroma profile, which makes them a popular choice for brewers who want to create beers with a bright and refreshing character.
These hops have a high alpha acid content and a very high percentage of beta acids, making them a great choice for bittering and aroma purposes. Chelan hops also have excellent storage stability, meaning they can be stored for long periods without losing flavor or aroma.
Chelan hops are versatile and can be used in various beer styles, including IPAs, pale ales, and lagers.
Usage: | Bittering |
Country of Origin: | United States |
Hop Growers Code: | CHE H87203-1 |
Where To Buy Chelan Hops
Chelan Flavor And Aroma
Chelan is a bittering hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
floral
citrus
Chelan 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% – 15.5% |
Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 8.5% – 11.5% |
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 – 2:1 |
Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness. | 33% – 35% |
Total Oils (mL/100g) With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds. | 1.5mL – 1.9mL |
Myrcene green, resinous | 45% – 55% |
Humulene woody, piney | 12% – 15% |
Caryophyllene woody | 9% – 12% |
Farnesene floral | 1% |
Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 17% – 34% |
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 80% alpha acid after 6 months storage at 20ºC (68ºF). |
Hop Storage Index (HSI) Rating | Great |
Chelan 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 Chelan, 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 Chelan 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