Sterling → Mount Hood
close matchUse 1.18× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 7% → 5.95% · 75% aroma match
- Keeps
- Noble, Herbal, Spicy
- Loses
- Floral
- Adds
- Pungent
United StatesSterling substitutes
Proven alternatives to Sterling and hops with a similar aroma profile. Pick by availability, price or country of origin.
Direct substitutes
2How 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.
Sterling → Saaz (US)
last-resort matchUse 1.87× the weight for the same bitterness
alpha acids 7% → 3.75% · 25% aroma match
- Keeps
- Noble
- Loses
- Herbal, Spicy, Floral
- Adds
- Slightly, Earthy
Similar aroma profiles
5Aurum
GermanyAromaPale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid3.5–5.7%
Beta acid3.1%
Total oil0.5–1.7 mL
SpicyFruityFloralMild+4
Celeia
SloveniaAromaPale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid3–6%
Beta acid2–4%
Total oil0.5–3.6 mL
NobleFloralLavenderSpicy+2
First Gold
United KingdomDual purposeIPAAPAPils
Alpha acid5.6–10%
Beta acid2.3–4.1%
Total oil0.7–1.5 mL
TangerineApricotMagnoliaRedberry+5
Liberty
USABitteringIPAImperial StoutBarleywine
Alpha acid3–6.5%
Beta acid3–4%
Total oil0.6–1.8 mL
NobleFloralHerbalSpicy+3
Pacific Crest
USAAromaPale AlePilsWitbier
Alpha acid3.9%
Beta acid3%
NobleTobaccoEarthyGrassy+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.