Michigan Copper is a unique hop, released in 2014 from the Great Lakes Hops (GLH) trials and breeding program. This versatile hop quickly gained popularity and became the best-selling hop at MI Local Hops, the largest grower of Michigan Copper in the United States. Michigan Copper is best used for late and dry-hopping additions. This proprietary hop is popular among breweries and homebrewers for its distinctive aroma and flavor.
Michigan Copper also delivers on taste by combining fragrant floral and tropical fruit aromas. Its rich fruit and candy notes have been compared to Hawaiian fruit punch, black cherry, red hard candy, and hibiscus resin. The feedback from brewers often leans towards exciting pineapple and stonefruit scents, making it a favorite for aromatic beers.
Michigan Copper is perfect for including hoppy beers such as India Pale Ales (IPAs), American Pale Ales, and hop-forward American wheat beers. Additionally, it’s well-suited for Belgian ales, lagers, and stouts.
| Usage: | Aroma |
| Country of Origin: | United States |
| Hop Growers Code: | N/A |
Where To Buy Michigan Copper Hops
Michigan Copper Flavor And Aroma
Michigan Copper is an aroma hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
floral
tropical
resin
Michigan Copper 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. | 8.8% – 11% |
| Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 2% – 3.5% |
| 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. | 3:1 – 6:1 |
| Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness. | 32% – 36% |
| Total Oils (mL/100g) With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds. | 1.15mL – 2.7mL |
| Myrcene green, resinous | 42% – 44% |
| Humulene woody, piney | 17% – 18% |
| Caryophyllene woody | 7% – 8% |
| Farnesene floral | 0% – 1% |
| Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 29% – 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). | Data Not Available |
| Hop Storage Index (HSI) Rating | Data Not Available |
Michigan Copper 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 Michigan Copper, 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 Michigan Copper 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
