Hopedia
China

Marco Polo substitutes

Proven alternatives to Marco Polo and hops with a similar aroma profile. Pick by availability, price or country of origin.

Compare side by side

Direct substitutes

4

CTZ

USADual purpose8230
IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid14.5–17%
Beta acid4.5–5.5%
Total oil2.5–4.5 mL
Black currantLicoriceCurryCitrus+2

Columbus

USADual purpose8230
IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid14–18%
Beta acid4.5–6%
Total oil2.5–4.5 mL
EarthyBlack currantLicoriceCurry+6

Tomahawk

USADual purpose8230
IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid15–17.5%
Beta acid4.5–6%
Total oil2.5–4.5 mL
CitrusBlack currantLicoriceCurry+1
Zeus

Zeus

USABittering8230
IPAImperial 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.

Marco Polo → CTZ

last-resort match

Use 0.79× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 12.5% → 15.75% · 0% aroma match

Loses
Gooseberry, Oregano, Elderflower
Adds
Black currant, Licorice, Curry, Citrus, Cannabis, Dank

Marco Polo → Columbus

last-resort match

Use 0.78× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 12.5% → 16% · 0% aroma match

Loses
Gooseberry, Oregano, Elderflower
Adds
Earthy, Black currant, Licorice, Curry, Spicy, Citrus, Floral, Pungent, Dank, Cannabis

Marco Polo → Tomahawk

last-resort match

Use 0.77× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 12.5% → 16.25% · 0% aroma match

Loses
Gooseberry, Oregano, Elderflower
Adds
Citrus, Black currant, Licorice, Curry, Onion

Marco Polo → Zeus

last-resort match

Use 0.82× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 12.5% → 15.25% · 0% aroma match

Loses
Gooseberry, Oregano, Elderflower
Adds
Black currant, Licorice, Curry, Pungent

Similar aroma profiles

2

African Queen

South AfricaDual purpose
IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid10–17%
Beta acid3.9–6.2%
Total oil0.7–1.5 mL
CitrusDankBlueberryStone fruit+7

Ariana

GermanyAroma
Pale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid9–13%
Beta acid4.5–6%
Total oil1.6–2.4 mL
CitrusTangerinePassion fruitPineapple+4

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.

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