Hop Substitution Guide: Which Hops Can Replace Which?

Why Substitute Hops?

Every homebrewer knows the problem: you've planned the perfect homebrew recipe, but your favorite hop variety is out of stock. Whether it's supply shortages, seasonal availability, or simply cost — there are many reasons you might need hop alternatives.

The good news: for virtually every popular brewing hop, there are viable substitutes that deliver a similar aroma and flavor profile. This brewing hops guide shows you the most important substitutions and what to watch out for.

Understanding Hop Categories

Before diving into the hop replacement chart, it's important to understand the different roles hops play:

Bittering Hops

Added early in the boil (60–90 minutes) to provide bitterness. Alpha acid content is the primary concern. Examples: Magnum, Bitburger, Northern Brewer.

Aroma Hops

Added late (0–15 minutes) or during dry hopping to contribute aroma and flavor without much bitterness. Examples: Cascade, Citra, Hallertauer Mittelfrüh.

Dual-Purpose Hops

Can be used for both bittering and aroma. Examples: Centennial, Chinook, Simcoe.

Popular Hops and Their Best Alternatives

Citra — Alternatives

Citra is known for intense tropical fruit aromas (mango, passionfruit, grapefruit). Possible substitutes:

• Galaxy — similarly tropical, with passionfruit and peach

• Mosaic — complex, with berry, tropical fruit, and earthy tones

• Idaho 7 — tropical with apricot and black tea notes

• Sabro — coconut, citrus, and tropical fruit

*Tip:* A blend of Galaxy and Mosaic comes closest to replicating the Citra profile.

Cascade — Alternatives

Cascade delivers floral citrus aromas and is the classic American Pale Ale hop. Substitutes:

• Centennial — often called "Super Cascade," more intense and floral

• Amarillo — stronger orange note with floral undertones

• Ahtanum — more subtle, with grapefruit and floral notes

• Columbus/Tomahawk — bolder, for more punch

Simcoe — Alternatives

Simcoe brings pine, citrus, and berry notes. Dual-purpose with high alpha acid. Hop substitution options:

• Summit — similarly piney with citrus

• Columbus — resinous character, high alpha acid

• Warrior — clean bittering with mild citrus

• Chinook — pine, grapefruit, spicy notes

Centennial — Alternatives

Centennial is floral and citrus-forward, stronger than Cascade. Substitutes:

• Cascade — milder but similar profile

• Amarillo — more orange, less floral

• Chinook — spicier with grapefruit

• CTZ (Columbus/Tomahawk/Zeus) — more intense, earthy

Amarillo — Alternatives

Amarillo shines with orange, floral, and stone fruit notes. Substitutes:

• Cascade + Centennial (blend) — approximates the profile

• Mandarina Bavaria — pronounced tangerine note

• Citra — more tropical but similar citrus intensity

• El Dorado — stone fruit and citrus

Alpha Acid Considerations When Substituting

When replacing a bittering hop, you need to adjust the IBU calculation. Different hops have different alpha acid percentages, and the same weight delivers different bitterness levels.

Formula: New Weight = (Original Weight × Original Alpha) ÷ Substitute Alpha

Example: Replacing 30g Simcoe (13% alpha) with Chinook (12% alpha):
30 × 13 ÷ 12 = 32.5g Chinook

Use the IBU Calculator to precisely calculate bitterness and ensure your beer stays within the target range despite the hop substitution.

Dry Hopping Tips for Substitutions

With dry hopping, it's all about aroma — alpha acid is irrelevant. This gives you more creative freedom:

• Blend 2–3 substitute hops to achieve a complex profile

• Focus on aroma categories: tropical, citrus, piney-resinous, floral, earthy

• Start with the same weight and adjust after your first attempt

• Contact time: 3–5 days at room temperature or 5–7 days cold

AI-Powered Hop Schedule

Don't want to research hop substitution manually? Our AI Recipe Generator automatically creates the perfect hop schedule for every beer style. The AI considers:

• Available hop varieties in your region

• Alpha acid adjustments for correct IBU values

• Aroma combinations that match your chosen style

• Boil times and addition points for bittering, flavor, and aroma hopping

The AI beer recipe gives you a complete hop schedule — from bittering additions through whirlpool to dry hopping. Check out our Recipe Generator Guide to learn how to customize the hop schedule.

For BIAB brewers, our BIAB Tutorial offers specific tips for hop additions in a single-vessel setup.

Ready to get started? Our AI Recipe Generator creates a perfect mash schedule — tailored to your equipment and chosen beer style. Generate Your Recipe →