Challenger → Northdown
workable matchUse 0.91× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 7.75% → 8.5% · 33% aroma match
- Keeps
- Cedar
- Loses
- Green, Fruity
- Adds
- Floral, Pine, Berry, Spicy
United KingdomChallenger substitutes
Proven alternatives to Challenger and hops with a similar aroma profile. Pick by availability, price or country of origin.
Direct substitutes
5
Northdown
USADual purpose8230IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid7–10%
Beta acid4–5.5%
Total oil1.2–2.5 mL
FloralPineCedarBerry+1
Northern Brewer (GR)
GermanyBittering8230IPAImperial StoutBarleywine
Alpha acid6–10%
Beta acid3–5%
Total oil1–2.1 mL
MintGrassyPine
Northern Brewer (US)
USABittering8230IPAImperial StoutBarleywine
Alpha acid7–10%
Beta acid3–5.5%
Total oil1–2 mL
PineWoodyMintBlack currant
Perle (US)
USADual purpose1978IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid4–9%
Beta acid2.5–4.5%
Total oil0.5–2 mL
SlightlyHerbalFloral
Target
United KingdomBittering1992IPAImperial StoutBarleywine
Alpha acid8.5–13.5%
Beta acid4.3–5.7%
Total oil1–1.4 mL
CitrusMarmaladeSageSpicy+1
How to swap it in a recipe
Bitterness scales with alpha acid times weight, so for bittering additions rescale the weight by the alpha ratio — the multiplier for each substitute is given below. For late, whirlpool and dry-hop additions dose 1:1 by weight and go by aroma instead, because alpha acids do not drive those.
Challenger → Northern Brewer (GR)
last-resort matchUse 0.97× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 7.75% → 8% · 0% aroma match
- Loses
- Cedar, Green, Fruity
- Adds
- Mint, Grassy, Pine
Challenger → Northern Brewer (US)
last-resort matchUse 0.91× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 7.75% → 8.5% · 0% aroma match
- Loses
- Cedar, Green, Fruity
- Adds
- Pine, Woody, Mint, Black currant
Challenger → Perle (US)
last-resort matchUse 1.19× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 7.75% → 6.5% · 0% aroma match
- Loses
- Cedar, Green, Fruity
- Adds
- Slightly, Herbal, Floral
Challenger → Target
last-resort matchUse 0.7× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 7.75% → 11% · 0% aroma match
- Loses
- Cedar, Green, Fruity
- Adds
- Citrus, Marmalade, Sage, Spicy, Pepper
Similar aroma profiles
4BRU-1
USAAromaPale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid13–15%
Beta acid8–10%
Total oil1.5–2 mL
PineappleGreenFruity
Crystal
USAAromaPale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid2.8–6%
Beta acid4.5–8.5%
Total oil0.8–2.3 mL
WoodyFloralGreenFruity+4
TNT Blend
USAAromaPale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid11.5–13%
Beta acid-
Total oil1.3–1.5 mL
FruityCitrusGreen
Toyomidori
JapanBitteringIPAImperial StoutBarleywine
Alpha acid11–13%
Beta acid5–6%
Total oil0.8–1.2 mL
MildFruityTobaccoGreen
How to pick a substitute
Look for similar alpha acid content (within 2%) and overlapping aroma notes. The more shared notes, the safer the swap.