Hop
Apollo
A very high-alpha American hop with sharp grapefruit and resinous character.
Aroma and flavour
Descriptors are impressions rather than analytical results. BeerHQ rates this characterisation as commonly reported.
Belongs to
Analysis
| Alpha acid | 15–20% |
|---|---|
| Cohumulone | 24–28% |
| Purpose | bittering |
| Origin | United States |
| Released | 2006 |
| Storage stability | excellent |
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
- Bittering (early boil). Added at or near the start of the boil, where long exposure isomerises alpha acids into bitterness and drives off aroma.
- First wort. Added to the kettle as it fills, before the boil. Associated with a rounder, smoother bitterness.
If you like Apollo
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.
Summit 16–19% alpha
Shares citrus, earth and wood with Apollo; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings allium that Apollo does not; lacks the pine and resin of Apollo.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Columbus 14–18% alpha
Shares citrus, pine and resin, earth and wood with Apollo; a dual-purpose variety though it bitters more gently.
Not the same: brings allium that Apollo does not.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Chinook 12–14% alpha
Shares citrus, pine and resin, earth and wood with Apollo; a dual-purpose variety though it bitters more gently.
Not the same: 5 points lower in alpha acid, so a like-for-like weight swap would change the bitterness.
Smells alike, but the alpha acid differs enough that a like-for-like swap would change the bitterness.
Southern Cross 11–14% alpha
Shares citrus, pine and resin, earth and wood with Apollo; a dual-purpose variety though it bitters more gently.
Not the same: 6 points lower in alpha acid, so a like-for-like weight swap would change the bitterness.
Smells alike, but the alpha acid differs enough that a like-for-like swap would change the bitterness.
Warrior 15–17% alpha
Shares citrus, pine and resin with Apollo; a bittering variety though it bitters more gently.
Not the same: brings herbal that Apollo does not; lacks the earth and wood of Apollo.
Smells alike, but the alpha acid differs enough that a like-for-like swap would change the bitterness.
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.