Northdown → Admiral
last-resort matchUse 0.58× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 8.5% → 14.6% · 20% aroma match
- Keeps
- Pine
- Loses
- Floral, Cedar, Berry, Spicy
- Adds
- Orange, Tea, Fresh, Citrus, Resin, Herbal
United StatesNorthdown substitutes
Proven alternatives to Northdown and hops with a similar aroma profile. Pick by availability, price or country of origin.
Direct substitutes
5Admiral
United KingdomBittering1998IPAImperial StoutBarleywine
Alpha acid13–16.2%
Beta acid4.8–6.1%
Total oil1–1.7 mL
OrangeTeaFreshPine+3
Challenger
United KingdomDual purpose1972IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid6.5–9%
Beta acid3–4.5%
Total oil1–1.7 mL
CedarGreenFruity
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
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.
Northdown → Challenger
last-resort matchUse 1.1× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 8.5% → 7.75% · 20% aroma match
- Keeps
- Cedar
- Loses
- Floral, Pine, Berry, Spicy
- Adds
- Green, Fruity
Northdown → Northern Brewer (GR)
last-resort matchUse 1.06× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 8.5% → 8% · 20% aroma match
- Keeps
- Pine
- Loses
- Floral, Cedar, Berry, Spicy
- Adds
- Mint, Grassy
Northdown → Northern Brewer (US)
last-resort matchUse the same weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 8.5% → 8.5% · 20% aroma match
- Keeps
- Pine
- Loses
- Floral, Cedar, Berry, Spicy
- Adds
- Woody, Mint, Black currant
Northdown → Target
last-resort matchUse 0.77× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 8.5% → 11% · 20% aroma match
- Keeps
- Spicy
- Loses
- Floral, Pine, Cedar, Berry
- Adds
- Citrus, Marmalade, Sage, Pepper
Similar aroma profiles
3Adeena
USAAromaPale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid3.5–5%
Beta acid3–4%
Total oil0.8–1.1 mL
HerbalSpicyFloralLemon+1
Ahtanum
USAAromaPale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid3.5–6.5%
Beta acid4–6.5%
Total oil0.5–1.7 mL
CitrusGrapefruitGeraniumPine+4
Cascade
USADual purposeIPAAPAPils
Alpha acid4.5–9%
Beta acid4.8–7.5%
Total oil0.7–2.5 mL
GrapefruitFloralSpicyCitrus+1
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.