Hop
Ahtanum
A gentle American aroma hop with grapefruit and floral character, softer than Cascade.
Aroma and flavour
Descriptors are impressions rather than analytical results. BeerHQ rates this characterisation as commonly reported.
Belongs to
Analysis
| Alpha acid | 4–7% |
|---|---|
| Purpose | aroma |
| Origin | United States |
| Storage stability | moderate |
The name is a registered trademark rather than a plain variety name, which affects what a label may say and who may grow it.
How it is used
- Late boil. Added in the last few minutes, retaining more aromatic oils while adding modest bitterness.
- Dry hop. Added after the boil, during or after fermentation. Contributes aroma and flavour with essentially no isomerised bitterness.
If you like Ahtanum
Hops with comparable character. Similarity and substitutability are different questions, so each entry says which it is: a hop can smell alike and still change the beer if its alpha acid is far off.
Cascade 5–7% alpha · editorial
A very close alternative in aroma and intensity.
Not the same: brings pine and resin that Ahtanum does not; lacks the earth and wood of Ahtanum.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Cluster 6–9% alpha
Shares citrus, floral, earth and wood with Ahtanum; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: nothing in the recorded profile separates the two, which means BeerHQ cannot tell you how they differ rather than that they are interchangeable.
Smells alike, but the alpha acid differs enough that a like-for-like swap would change the bitterness.
First Gold 7–9% alpha
Shares citrus, floral, earth and wood with Ahtanum; a dual-purpose variety though it bitters harder.
Not the same: nothing in the recorded profile separates the two, which means BeerHQ cannot tell you how they differ rather than that they are interchangeable.
Smells alike, but the alpha acid differs enough that a like-for-like swap would change the bitterness.
East Kent Goldings 5–7% alpha
Shares floral, earth and wood with Ahtanum; an aroma variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings herbal that Ahtanum does not; lacks the citrus of Ahtanum.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Willamette 4–6% alpha
Shares floral, earth and wood with Ahtanum; an aroma variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings herbal that Ahtanum does not; lacks the citrus of Ahtanum.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Straight substitutes
Close enough in both character and alpha acid to swap at a similar weight. Substitution is directional and imperfect — these are the nearest available options, not equivalents.
- Cascade — A very close alternative in aroma and intensity.
- East Kent Goldings — Shares floral, earth and wood with Ahtanum; an aroma variety at a comparable alpha acid.
- Willamette — Shares floral, earth and wood with Ahtanum; an aroma variety at a comparable alpha acid.
- Bobek — Shares citrus, floral with Ahtanum; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.