Quick Guide to Hop Pairing
Matt Peck
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Hops are a critical component of beer, bringing in flavor, aroma, and bitterness. With a wide variety of hops available around the world all at your fingertips, the combinations are endless, giving you the chance to make your beer truly stand out.
There are many ways to use hops, add them at the beginning or end of the boil, dry hop during the whirlpool, finish with hops in the secondary, or even infuse hops during the transfer stage to a keg or bottle. The possibilities are limitless. So, where should you start?
Whether you're crafting your first beer or experimenting with hop variations, here’s a list of hops that pair well together, along with the flavor profiles you can build to impress anyone who tastes your brew.
Hop Pairing Guide: Two-Hop Combinations
| Hop 1 | Hop 2 | Common Flavor Notes | Beer Styles |
| Citra | Mosaic | Tropical fruit, citrus, mango, blueberry | IPA, Pale Ale |
| Simcoe | Amarillo | Grapefruit, pine, stone fruit | IPA, Amber Ale |
| Centennial | Cascade | Floral, citrus, grapefruit | American Pale Ale, IPA |
| Galaxy | Nelson Sauvin | Passionfruit, white wine, gooseberry | NEIPA, Saison |
| Chinook | Columbus | Pine, dank, resin, earthy | West Coast IPA, Imperial IPA |
| El Dorado | Azacca | Pineapple, mango, stone fruit | Hazy IPA, Pale Ale |
| Strata | Cashmere | Strawberry, melon, herbal, coconut | Fruited IPA, Pale Ale |
| Sabro | Ekuanot | Coconut, lime, tropical fruit, spice | Milkshake IPA, Fruited Beer |
| Idaho 7 | Talus | Pineapple, pink grapefruit, herbal | Juicy IPA, Pale Ale |
| Hallertau Mittelfrüh | Tettnang | Floral, herbal, mild spice | Lager, Kölsch, Pilsner |
| Saaz | Styrian Golding | Earthy, spicy, noble character | Czech Pilsner, Belgian Ale |
| Cascade | Nugget | Grapefruit, floral, Spicy Piney Herbal | IPA, Blonde, Amber |
Hop Pairing Guide: Three-Hop Combinations
| Hop 1 | Hop 2 | Hop 3 | Combined Flavor Profile | Beer Styles |
| Citra | Mosaic | Simcoe | Citrus, tropical fruit, pine, slight dankness | IPA, Hazy IPA, Pale Ale |
| Galaxy | El Dorado | Comet | Wild, Juicy, Tropical | Juicy IPA, Saison, Fruited IPA |
| El Dorado | Azacca | Cashmere | Pineapple, mango, stone fruit, melon, herbal coconut notes | Juicy IPA, Pale Ale, Hazy Pale |
| Amarillo | Centennial | Cascade | Orange, grapefruit, floral, citrus peel | West Coast IPA, Amber Ale |
Optimal Hop Characteristics and Timing for Addition
Beginning of Boil (Bittering)
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Purpose: Extract bitterness through conversion of alpha acids
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Best Hops: High alpha acid hops that can withstand long boils without adding harsh flavors
| Hop | Alpha Acid % | Flavor Contribution | Notes |
| Magnum | 12–16% | Clean, neutral bitterness | Ideal for clean bittering |
| Warrior | 14–18% | Smooth, mild citrus | Very efficient, minimal flavor impact |
| Columbus (CTZ) | 14–17% | Dank, earthy, pungent | Adds complexity, common in IPAs |
| Nugget | 12–14% | Herbal, slightly spicy | Great for darker or spiced beers |
End of Boil (Finishing Hops)
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Purpose: Add aroma and some flavor, with minimal bitterness
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Best Hops: Those with strong essential oils and distinctive armoa
| Hop | Alpha Acid % | Flavor Contribution | Notes |
| Magnum | 12–16% | Clean, neutral bitterness | Ideal for clean bittering |
| Warrior | 14–18% | Smooth, mild citrus | Very efficient, minimal flavor impact |
| Columbus (CTZ) | 14–17% | Dank, earthy, pungent | Adds complexity, common in IPAs |
| Nugget | 12–14% | Herbal, slightly spicy | Great for darker or spiced beers |
Whirlpool (Post-Boil Additions at 160–180°F / 70–80°C)
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Purpose: Maximize hop flavor and aroma extraction without adding bitterness
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Best Hops: Hops rich in oils
| Hop | Flavor/Aroma Notes | Ideal For |
| Citra | Mango, citrus, tropical fruits | Hazy IPAs, Pale Ales |
| Mosaic | Blueberry, pine, tropical fruit | IPAs, NEIPAs |
| Galaxy | Passionfruit, peach, citrus | Juicy IPAs, Saisons |
| El Dorado | Watermelon, stone fruit, candy | Hazy Ales, Fruity IPAs |
Fermentor (Dry Hopping / Secondary Fermentation)
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Purpose: Enhance aroma without adding bitterness
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Best Hops: Aromatic, oil-rich hops—fresh or pelletized
| Hop | Aroma Notes | Ideal For |
| Simcoe | Pine, apricot, earth | West Coast IPAs, Hoppy Ales |
| Strata | Dank, strawberry, tropical | Modern IPAs, Experimental |
| Nelson Sauvin | White wine, gooseberry | Funky or mixed-culture beers |
| Sabro | Coconut, lime, cedar | Fruity, Milkshake, or Hazy IPAs |
Hopefully, this provides a quick reference when you're building your next hop profile.
