Hopedia
United States

Northern Brewer (US) substitutes

Proven alternatives to Northern Brewer (US) and hops with a similar aroma profile. Pick by availability, price or country of origin.

Compare side by side

Direct substitutes

6
Chinook

Chinook

USADual purpose8230
IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid11.5–15%
Beta acid3–4%
Total oil1–2.7 mL
PineResinGrapefruitSpicy+2
Galena

Galena

USAAroma1978
Pale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid12–15.5%
Beta acid7.2–8.7%
Total oil0.9–2.1 mL
FruityPearPineappleBlack currant+5
Magnum (GR)

Magnum (GR)

GermanyBittering1980
IPAImperial StoutBarleywine
Alpha acid11–16%
Beta acid4.5–7%
Total oil1.6–2.6 mL
AppleBlack currantCleanCitrus+3

Magnum (US)

USABittering1980
IPAImperial StoutBarleywine
Alpha acid10–16%
Beta acid4.5–7%
Total oil1.6–3 mL
FloralCitrusSpicyNutmeg+1
Northern Brewer (GR)

Northern Brewer (GR)

GermanyBittering8230
IPAImperial StoutBarleywine
Alpha acid6–10%
Beta acid3–5%
Total oil1–2.1 mL
MintGrassyPine

Perle (US)

USADual purpose1978
IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid4–9%
Beta acid2.5–4.5%
Total oil0.5–2 mL
SlightlyHerbalFloral

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.

Northern Brewer (US) → Chinook

last-resort match

Use 0.64× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 8.5% → 13.25% · 25% aroma match

Keeps
Pine
Loses
Woody, Mint, Black currant
Adds
Resin, Grapefruit, Spicy, Dank, Cannabis

Northern Brewer (US) → Galena

workable match

Use 0.62× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 8.5% → 13.75% · 50% aroma match

Keeps
Woody, Black currant
Loses
Pine, Mint
Adds
Fruity, Pear, Pineapple, Grapefruit, Lime, Gooseberry, Spicy

Northern Brewer (US) → Magnum (GR)

last-resort match

Use 0.63× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 8.5% → 13.5% · 25% aroma match

Keeps
Black currant
Loses
Pine, Woody, Mint
Adds
Apple, Clean, Citrus, Clean, Floral, Fruity

Northern Brewer (US) → Magnum (US)

last-resort match

Use 0.65× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 8.5% → 13% · 25% aroma match

Keeps
Black currant
Loses
Pine, Woody, Mint
Adds
Floral, Citrus, Spicy, Nutmeg

Northern Brewer (US) → Perle (US)

last-resort match

Use 1.31× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 8.5% → 6.5% · 0% aroma match

Loses
Pine, Woody, Mint, Black currant
Adds
Slightly, Herbal, Floral

Similar aroma profiles

4

Eureka

USADual purpose
IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid17–20%
Beta acid4.5–6%
Total oil2.5–4.4 mL
HerbalDarkMintCitrus+6

Idaho 7

USAAroma
Pale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid9.5–14.9%
Beta acid3.5–5%
Total oil1–2 mL
Black currantTropicalCitrusApricot+8

Crystal

USAAroma
Pale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid2.8–6%
Beta acid4.5–8.5%
Total oil0.8–2.3 mL
WoodyFloralGreenFruity+4

Fuggle

United KingdomAroma
Pale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid2.4–6.1%
Beta acid2.1–3.5%
Total oil0.44–1 mL
WoodyGrassyMintMild

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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