CTZ → Columbus
close matchUse 0.98× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 15.75% → 16% · 100% aroma match
- Keeps
- Black currant, Licorice, Curry, Citrus, Cannabis, Dank
- Adds
- Earthy, Spicy, Floral, Pungent
United StatesCTZ substitutes
Proven alternatives to CTZ and hops with a similar aroma profile. Pick by availability, price or country of origin.
Direct substitutes
3Columbus
USADual purpose8230IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid14–18%
Beta acid4.5–6%
Total oil2.5–4.5 mL
EarthyBlack currantLicoriceCurry+6
Tomahawk
USADual purpose8230IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid15–17.5%
Beta acid4.5–6%
Total oil2.5–4.5 mL
CitrusBlack currantLicoriceCurry+1
Zeus
USABittering8230IPAImperial StoutBarleywine
Alpha acid13–17.5%
Beta acid4–6.5%
Total oil2.4–4.5 mL
Black currantLicoriceCurryPungent
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.
CTZ → Tomahawk
close matchUse 0.97× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 15.75% → 16.25% · 67% aroma match
- Keeps
- Black currant, Licorice, Curry, Citrus
- Loses
- Cannabis, Dank
- Adds
- Onion
CTZ → Zeus
workable matchUse 1.03× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 15.75% → 15.25% · 50% aroma match
- Keeps
- Black currant, Licorice, Curry
- Loses
- Citrus, Cannabis, Dank
- Adds
- Pungent
Similar aroma profiles
3Summit
USABitteringIPAImperial StoutBarleywine
Alpha acid15–17.5%
Beta acid4–6.5%
Total oil1.5–3 mL
Black currantAniseIncenseOrange+8
African Queen
South AfricaDual purposeIPAAPAPils
Alpha acid10–17%
Beta acid3.9–6.2%
Total oil0.7–1.5 mL
CitrusDankBlueberryStone fruit+7
Apollo
USABitteringIPAImperial StoutBarleywine
Alpha acid15–20.5%
Beta acid5.5–8%
Total oil0.8–2.5 mL
CitrusGrapefruitOrangePine+5
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.