Hopedia Hops Hop of the week Purpose Tools Learn Quiz Guides My recipes Embed

United States

Ultra substitutes

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

Compare side by side

Direct substitutes

5

Crystal

Crystal

Pale AlePilsWitbier

Alpha acid2.8–6%

Beta acid4.5–8.5%

Total oil0.8–2.3 mL

WoodyFloralGreenFruity+4

Liberty

Liberty

USABittering8230

IPAImperial StoutBarleywine

Alpha acid3–6.5%

Beta acid3–4%

Total oil0.6–1.8 mL

NobleFloralHerbalSpicy+3

Mount Hood

Mount Hood

Pale AlePilsWitbier

Alpha acid3.9–8%

Beta acid5–8%

Total oil1.2–1.7 mL

NobleHerbalPungentSpicy

Saaz (US)

Saaz (US)

Pale AlePilsWitbier

Alpha acid3–4.5%

Beta acid3–4.5%

Total oil0.5–1 mL

SlightlyEarthyNoble

Tettnanger

Tettnanger

GermanyDual purpose8230

Alpha acid2.5–5.8%

Beta acid2.8–5.3%

Total oil0.4–1.1 mL

SpicyFloralPepperBlack currant

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.

Ultra → Crystal

workable match

Use 1.44× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 6.35% → 4.4% · 33% aroma match

Keeps: Floral
Loses: Mild, Pleasant
Adds: Woody, Green, Fruity, Spicy, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Black currant

Ultra → Liberty

workable match

Use 1.34× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 6.35% → 4.75% · 33% aroma match

Keeps: Floral
Loses: Mild, Pleasant
Adds: Noble, Herbal, Spicy, Delicate, Citrus, Lemon

Ultra → Mount Hood

last-resort match

Use 1.07× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 6.35% → 5.95% · 0% aroma match

Loses: Mild, Pleasant, Floral
Adds: Noble, Herbal, Pungent, Spicy

Ultra → Saaz (US)

last-resort match

Use 1.69× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 6.35% → 3.75% · 0% aroma match

Loses: Mild, Pleasant, Floral
Adds: Slightly, Earthy, Noble

Ultra → Tettnanger

workable match

Use 1.53× the weight for the same bitterness

alpha acids 6.35% → 4.15% · 33% aroma match

Keeps: Floral
Loses: Mild, Pleasant
Adds: Spicy, Pepper, Black currant

Similar aroma profiles

2

Aurum

Pale AlePilsWitbier

Alpha acid3.5–5.7%

Total oil0.5–1.7 mL

SpicyFruityFloralMild+4

Chelan

IPAImperial StoutBarleywine

Alpha acid12–15%

Beta acid8.5–10%

Total oil1.5–1.9 mL

FloralCitrusFruityMild

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.