Hop
Comet
An older American variety revived for its unusual wild, grassy, grapefruit character.
Aroma and flavour
Descriptors are impressions rather than analytical results. BeerHQ rates this characterisation as commonly reported.
Belongs to
Analysis
| Alpha acid | 9–12% |
|---|---|
| Purpose | dual purpose |
| Origin | United States |
| Released | 1974 |
| 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.
- Whirlpool / hop stand. Steeped below boiling after flameout. Extracts aroma and flavour with limited additional bitterness.
- Dry hop. Added after the boil, during or after fermentation. Contributes aroma and flavour with essentially no isomerised bitterness.
If you like Comet
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.
Centennial 10–12% alpha
Both lead with citrus; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings floral and pine and resin that Comet does not; lacks the grass and earth and wood of Comet.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Pilgrim 9–13% alpha
Shares citrus, earth and wood with Comet; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings noble spice that Comet does not; lacks the grass of Comet.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Amarillo 8–11% alpha
Both lead with citrus; an aroma variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings floral and stone fruit that Comet does not; lacks the grass and earth and wood of Comet.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Ahtanum 4–7% alpha
Shares citrus, earth and wood with Comet; an aroma variety though it bitters more gently.
Not the same: brings floral that Comet does not; lacks the grass of Comet; 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.
Endeavour 8–10% alpha
Shares citrus, earth and wood with Comet; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings berry that Comet does not; lacks the grass of Comet.
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.
- Centennial — Both lead with citrus; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
- Pilgrim — Shares citrus, earth and wood with Comet; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
- Amarillo — Both lead with citrus; an aroma variety at a comparable alpha acid.