Smaragd → Opal
last-resort matchUse 0.53× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 5% → 9.5% · 43% aroma match
- Keeps
- Floral, Spicy, Anise
- Loses
- Fruity, Tobacco, Clove, Noble
- Adds
- Black currant, Citrus, Herbal
GermanySmaragd substitutes
Proven alternatives to Smaragd and hops with a similar aroma profile. Pick by availability, price or country of origin.
Direct substitutes
1How 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.
Similar aroma profiles
5Aurum
GermanyAromaPale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid3.5–5.7%
Beta acid3.1%
Total oil0.5–1.7 mL
SpicyFruityFloralMild+4
Ella
AustraliaDual purposeIPAAPAPils
Alpha acid13.3–19.2%
Beta acid4–7.8%
Total oil2.4–3.4 mL
FloralSpicyGrapefruitTropical+2
Pacific Crest
USAAromaPale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid3.9%
Beta acid3%
NobleTobaccoEarthyGrassy+4
Aurora
SloveniaDual purposeIPAAPAPils
Alpha acid6.5–13%
Beta acid2.7–5.5%
Total oil0.9–1.8 mL
FloralSpicyLemongrassNoble
Celeia
SloveniaAromaPale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid3–6%
Beta acid2–4%
Total oil0.5–3.6 mL
NobleFloralLavenderSpicy+2
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.