Hop
Aurora
A Slovenian dual-purpose hop with a resinous, floral character and moderate bitterness.
Also known as Super Styrian.
Aroma and flavour
Descriptors are impressions rather than analytical results. BeerHQ rates this characterisation as commonly reported.
Belongs to
Analysis
| Alpha acid | 7–10% |
|---|---|
| Purpose | dual purpose |
| Origin | Slovenia |
| Storage stability | good |
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.
- Late boil. Added in the last few minutes, retaining more aromatic oils while adding modest bitterness.
If you like Aurora
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.
First Gold 7–9% alpha
Shares floral, earth and wood with Aurora; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings citrus that Aurora does not; lacks the pine and resin of Aurora.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Celeia 3–6% alpha
Shares floral, earth and wood with Aurora; an aroma variety though it bitters more gently.
Not the same: brings herbal that Aurora does not; lacks the pine and resin of Aurora; 4 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.
Northdown 8–10% alpha
Shares pine and resin, earth and wood with Aurora; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings noble spice that Aurora does not; lacks the floral of Aurora.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Premiant 7–10% alpha
Both lead with floral; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings noble spice and herbal that Aurora does not; lacks the pine and resin and earth and wood of Aurora.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Phoenix 9–11% alpha
Shares floral, earth and wood with Aurora; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings noble spice that Aurora does not; lacks the pine and resin of Aurora.
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.
- First Gold — Shares floral, earth and wood with Aurora; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
- Northdown — Shares pine and resin, earth and wood with Aurora; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
- Premiant — Both lead with floral; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
- Cluster — Shares floral, earth and wood with Aurora; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.