Hop
Brewer's Gold
A historically important English variety, ancestor to much of the modern high-alpha stock, with blackcurrant and spice.
Aroma and flavour
Descriptors are impressions rather than analytical results. BeerHQ rates this characterisation as commonly reported.
Belongs to
Analysis
| Alpha acid | 6–9% |
|---|---|
| Purpose | dual purpose |
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Released | 1934 |
| Storage stability | moderate |
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 Brewer's Gold
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.
Northdown 8–10% alpha
Shares noble spice, earth and wood with Brewer's Gold; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings pine and resin that Brewer's Gold does not; lacks the berry of Brewer's Gold.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Bramling Cross 5–7% alpha
Shares berry, noble spice with Brewer's Gold; an aroma variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings citrus that Brewer's Gold does not; lacks the earth and wood of Brewer's Gold.
Smells alike, but the alpha acid differs enough that a like-for-like swap would change the bitterness.
Challenger 7–9% alpha
Shares noble spice, earth and wood with Brewer's Gold; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings herbal and floral that Brewer's Gold does not; lacks the berry of Brewer's Gold.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Cluster 6–9% alpha
Both lead with earth and wood; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings floral and citrus that Brewer's Gold does not; lacks the berry and noble spice of Brewer's Gold.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Endeavour 8–10% alpha
Shares berry, earth and wood with Brewer's Gold; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings citrus that Brewer's Gold does not; lacks the noble spice of Brewer's Gold.
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.
- Northdown — Shares noble spice, earth and wood with Brewer's Gold; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
- Challenger — Shares noble spice, earth and wood with Brewer's Gold; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
- Cluster — Both lead with earth and wood; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
- Jester — Both lead with berry; an aroma variety at a comparable alpha acid.