Hopedia
New Zealand

Pacific Gem substitutes

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

Compare side by side

Direct substitutes

5
Belma

Belma

USADual purpose2012
IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid8.5–12.1%
Beta acid4–8%
Total oil1–2.5 mL
OrangeMelonStrawberryPineapple+4
Cluster

Cluster

USADual purpose8230
IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid5.5–9%
Beta acid4.5–6%
Total oil0.4–1 mL
FloralEarthySweet
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

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.

Pacific Gem → Belma

last-resort match

Use 1.36× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 14% → 10.3% · 17% aroma match

Keeps
Berry
Loses
Black currant, Blackberry, Floral, Oak, Pine
Adds
Orange, Melon, Strawberry, Pineapple, Grapefruit, Citrus, Tropical

Pacific Gem → Cluster

last-resort match

Use 1.93× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 14% → 7.25% · 17% aroma match

Keeps
Floral
Loses
Black currant, Berry, Blackberry, Oak, Pine
Adds
Earthy, Sweet

Pacific Gem → Galena

last-resort match

Use 1.02× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 14% → 13.75% · 17% aroma match

Keeps
Black currant
Loses
Berry, Blackberry, Floral, Oak, Pine
Adds
Fruity, Pear, Pineapple, Grapefruit, Lime, Gooseberry, Spicy, Woody

Pacific Gem → Magnum (GR)

workable match

Use 1.04× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 14% → 13.5% · 33% aroma match

Keeps
Black currant, Floral
Loses
Berry, Blackberry, Oak, Pine
Adds
Apple, Clean, Citrus, Clean, Fruity

Pacific Gem → Magnum (US)

workable match

Use 1.08× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 14% → 13% · 33% aroma match

Keeps
Black currant, Floral
Loses
Berry, Blackberry, Oak, Pine
Adds
Citrus, Spicy, Nutmeg

Similar aroma profiles

3

Idaho 7

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

Green Bullet

New ZealandDual purpose
IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid11–15%
Beta acid6.5–7%
Total oil1–1.4 mL
PineBlack currantPlumResin+2

Northdown

USADual purpose
IPAAPAPils
Alpha acid7–10%
Beta acid4–5.5%
Total oil1.2–2.5 mL
FloralPineCedarBerry+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.

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