The Best Hops For Pale Ale – A Home Brewers Guide

When it comes to brewing a pale ale, the hops you choose can make or break the final product. While everyone has their own preferences, if you are looking for a tried and true option, then Cascade is a solid choice. But what about other varieties? In this article, we’ll explore the best hops for a delicious pale ale.

While we’re confident in our picks, we encourage brewers to experiment and find their own perfect combination of hops for their brew.

So, let’s dive in and discover the best hops for a perfect pale ale.

The Best Hops for Pale Ales and American Pale Ales – Summary

Cascade

When it comes to brewing a great American Pale Ale, choosing the right hops is essential. One of the best hops for Pale Ale is Cascade, and it’s easy to see why. With its medium strength and unique floral, citrusy, and spicy aroma, Cascade is the hallmark of the American Pale Ale style.

Cascade’s moderate alpha acid content of around 6% makes it perfect for use in bittering, flavor, and aroma additions, making it a versatile choice for Pale Ale.

Tips for Using Cascade in a Pale Ale

To get the most out of Cascade, it’s important to use it at different stages of the boil, as well as during dry-hopping.

A typical schedule for a Pale Ale could be:

• 25-30 grams of Cascade Hops for 60 minutes
• 15 grams for 30 minutes
• 15 grams for 15 minutes
• 15 grams at whirlpool
• 15 grams dry-hopped

Common Pairings

Cascade also pairs well with other American hops such as Centennial, Chinook, Citra, Simcoe, and Amarillo, as well as some English hops such as Fuggle and Golding.

This makes it a great choice for brewers who want to experiment with different hop combinations.

However, it’s important to note that Cascade can be overpowering if used too much or in combination with other strong hops, and it can impart a grapefruit-like bitterness which may not be to everyone’s taste. It’s important to use Cascade in moderation to avoid these issues.

Mosaic

When it comes to brewing a delicious pale ale, one of the best hops to consider is Mosaic. Not only is it a popular choice among craft brewers and homebrewers, but it also offers a unique and complex aroma that can range from tropical fruit and citrus to berry, herbal, and pine notes.

This versatility makes it a great option for various stages of the brewing process, including bittering, flavoring, and dry hopping.

Tips for Using Mosaic in a Pale Ale

For those looking to use Mosaic hops in their pale ale recipe, there are some basic usage and dosage instructions to follow.

For bittering, use about 14 to 28 grams of Mosaic hops per 19 liters of wort at the beginning of the boil.

For flavoring, use the same amount of hops at the last 15 to 20 minutes of the boil.

For dry hopping, use about 28 to 56 grams of Mosaic hops per 19 liters of beer after fermentation is complete and let it sit for 3 to 7 days.

Common Pairings

When it comes to hop pairings, some common options for a Mosaic pale ale include Amarillo, Citra, and Simcoe. Amarillo can complement and balance the complexity of Mosaic, while Citra enhances the fruity character and adds some dankness and bitterness. Simcoe can contrast and complement the fruity and floral notes and add some resinous and bitter qualities.

Overall, Mosaic hops are a great choice for those who enjoy hoppy and aromatic beers with a wide range of flavors. However, it may not be the best option for those who prefer mild and malty beers with a simple and consistent flavor.

Citra

Looking for the perfect hops to use in your next pale ale recipe? Look no further than Citra hops. These versatile hops are known for their citrus, grapefruit, lychee, passionfruit, and melon aromas and flavors, making them an excellent choice for complementing the malt character and balancing the bitterness of your pale ale.

Citra hops have a high alpha acid content of 11%, which means they can provide a moderate to high level of bitterness depending on the amount and timing of addition. However, they also have a low cohumulone content of 22-24%, which produces a smooth and pleasant bitterness that is not harsh or astringent.

Tips for Using Citra in a Pale Ale

When it comes to usage, Citra hops can be used for bittering, flavor, aroma, and dry hopping, making them a versatile choice for any stage of the brewing process. They can even be paired with other hops to create complex and interesting hop profiles.

Some common hop pairings for Citra are Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Galaxy.

For bittering, use 15 grams of Citra hops per 19 litres of wort and boil for 60 minutes. This will provide about 20 IBUs of bitterness.

For flavor, use 15 grams of Citra hops per 19 litres of wort and boil for 15 minutes. This will provide about 10 IBUs of bitterness and some citrusy hop flavor. Be sure to use your brewing software though and calculate using the specific alpha acid of the hops you purchased.

For aroma, use 15 grams of Citra hops per 19 litres of wort and add at the end of the boil or during whirlpool. This will provide some citrusy hop aroma and flavor without adding much bitterness.

For dry hopping, use 30 – 60 grams of Citra hops per 19 litres of beer and add after fermentation is complete. This will provide a strong citrusy hop aroma and flavor that will enhance the overall character of the beer.

Citra hops are best suited for pale ales that have a light to medium body and color, a moderate to high carbonation level, and a clean yeast profile.

They can also be used for other styles such as IPA, wheat beer, saison, or sour ale.

Citra hops can impart a juicy, fruity, and tropical character to the beer that can be refreshing and satisfying. However, some people may find them too intense, overpowering, or cloying if used excessively or in combination with other strong hops.

Nelson Sauvin

When it comes to brewing a fantastic pale ale, choosing the right hops is crucial. One hop variety that stands out for this style is Nelson Sauvin. 

Nelson Sauvin is a unique hop variety from New Zealand that offers a distinctive aroma and flavor profile reminiscent of white wine, gooseberry, and tropical fruits. This can provide a refreshing and crisp quality to pale ales, especially those with a light malt base and moderate to high carbonation.

Tips for Using Nelson Sauvin in a Pale Ale

Nelson Sauvin is a dual-purpose hop that can be used for both bittering and aroma/flavor additions. It has a high alpha acid content of 12-13% and a low cohumulone level of 24% of alpha acids, which means it can impart a smooth and clean bitterness without harshness.

It can be used in various brewing stages, such as first wort hopping, boiling, whirlpool, and dry hopping.

Common Pairings

It pairs well with other New Zealand hops such as Motueka, Riwaka, Pacifica, and Pacific Jade, as well as American hops such as Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Amarillo.

Chinook

When it comes to selecting the best hops for pale ale, Chinook is a solid choice. This classic American hop is known for its citrus, pine, and spice characteristics, making it an excellent addition to the hop-forward style of pale ale.

What makes Chinook even more appealing is its high alpha acid content, which ranges from 11.5 – 15%. This makes it versatile enough to use for bittering, as well as for flavor and aroma additions later in the brewing process.

One of the benefits of using Chinook hops is the complexity and diversity it can bring to the hop profile of pale ale. When grown in California, it can produce tropical fruit and stone fruit notes, adding a unique twist to the flavor. Additionally, Chinook is widely available and relatively inexpensive compared to some newer hop varieties.

Tips for Using Chinook in a Pale Ale

Usage and dosage instructions for Chinook hops in pale ale are straightforward.

For bittering, use about 8 g of Chinook per 23 liters of wort at the start of the boil.

For flavor, use about 10 g of Chinook per 23 liters of wort at 20 minutes before the end of the boil.

For aroma, use about 12 g of Chinook per 23 liters of wort at 10 minutes before the end of the boil.

For dry hopping, use about 56 g of Chinook per 23 liters of beer for 4 days.

Common Pairings

When it comes to hop pairings, Chinook works well with Cascade, another classic American hop that adds more citrus and floral notes to complement Chinook’s pine and spice. East Kent Goldings, a traditional English hop, adds an earthy and herbal touch to balance Chinook’s intensity.

Simcoe, a newer American hop, enhances Chinook’s resinous and dank qualities with a hint of pineapple and passionfruit.