Hop
Sládek
A Czech aroma hop with Saaz-like spice plus a brighter fruit and citrus character.
Also known as Sladek.
Aroma and flavour
Descriptors are impressions rather than analytical results. BeerHQ rates this characterisation as commonly reported.
Belongs to
Analysis
| Alpha acid | 5–8% |
|---|---|
| Purpose | aroma |
| Origin | Czechia |
| Storage stability | moderate |
How it is used
- Late boil. Added in the last few minutes, retaining more aromatic oils while adding modest bitterness.
- Whirlpool / hop stand. Steeped below boiling after flameout. Extracts aroma and flavour with limited additional bitterness.
- Traditional late lager hopping. Continental practice of late kettle additions of noble varieties for a fine, spicy-floral character.
If you like Sládek
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.
Kazbek 5–8% alpha
Shares noble spice, citrus with Sládek; an aroma variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings herbal that Sládek does not; lacks the stone fruit of Sládek.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Opal 5–9% alpha
Shares noble spice, citrus with Sládek; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings herbal that Sládek does not; lacks the stone fruit of Sládek.
Close enough in both aroma and alpha acid to swap in a recipe.
Harmonie 5–8% alpha
Both lead with noble spice; an aroma variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings floral and herbal that Sládek does not; lacks the citrus and stone fruit of Sládek.
Comparable alpha acid, but a different aroma — a bittering substitute rather than a character one.
Bramling Cross 5–7% alpha
Shares noble spice, citrus with Sládek; an aroma variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings berry that Sládek does not; lacks the stone fruit of Sládek.
Comparable alpha acid, but a different aroma — a bittering substitute rather than a character one.
Sterling 6–9% alpha
Shares noble spice, citrus with Sládek; a dual-purpose variety at a comparable alpha acid.
Not the same: brings herbal that Sládek does not; lacks the stone fruit of Sládek.
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.