Hop
Pacific Jade
A New Zealand dual-purpose hop with black pepper, citrus and a soft bitterness.
Aroma and flavour
Descriptors are impressions rather than analytical results. BeerHQ rates this characterisation as commonly reported.
Belongs to
Analysis
| Alpha acid | 12–14% |
|---|---|
| Purpose | dual purpose |
| Origin | New Zealand |
| Storage stability | good |
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.
- Whirlpool / hop stand. Steeped below boiling after flameout. Extracts aroma and flavour with limited additional bitterness.
If you like Pacific Jade
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.
Herkules 12–17% alpha
Shares noble spice, citrus with Pacific Jade; a bittering variety though it bitters harder.
Not the same: lacks the herbal of Pacific Jade.
Smells alike, but the alpha acid differs enough that a like-for-like swap would change the bitterness.
Kazbek 5–8% alpha
Shares noble spice, citrus, herbal with Pacific Jade; an aroma variety though it bitters more gently.
Not the same: 7 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.
Sterling 6–9% alpha
Shares noble spice, citrus, herbal with Pacific Jade; 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.
Aramis 7–9% alpha
Shares noble spice, citrus, herbal with Pacific Jade; 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.
Dana 11–16% alpha
Shares noble spice, herbal with Pacific Jade; a bittering variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings floral that Pacific Jade does not; lacks the citrus of Pacific Jade.
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.
- Dana — Shares noble spice, herbal with Pacific Jade; a bittering variety at a comparable alpha acid.
- Sorachi Ace — Shares citrus, herbal with Pacific Jade; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.