Amarillo Hop Pellets 1 oz

Amarillo is one of America's premier aroma hops, prized for its vibrant citrus character and exceptional versatility. Developed by Virgil Gamache Farms in Washington State and released in the early 2000s, Amarillo is a proprietary variety that has become a favorite for hop-forward craft beers. Its high essential oil content produces bright, expressive aromas, making it an outstanding choice for late kettle additions, whirlpool hopping, and dry hopping.

Technical Specifications

• Manufacturer: Yakima Chief Hops
• Hop Type: Aroma / Dual Purpose
• Origin: United States
• Alpha Acid: 7.0 - 11.0%
• Beta Acid: 5.5 - 8.0%
• Cohumulone: 20 - 24%

Flavor & Aroma Profile

Amarillo is best known for its bold sweet orange aroma, complemented by notes of tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, apricot, peach, and subtle floral characteristics. Its low cohumulone content contributes to a smooth bitterness, while whirlpool and dry hop additions bring out juicy citrus and stone fruit flavors with a clean, balanced finish. Amarillo performs equally well as a featured single hop or blended with other modern American varieties.

Brewing Applications

Amarillo excels in American Pale Ale, American IPA, Hazy IPA, West Coast IPA, Blonde Ale, American Wheat Ale, Session IPA, and Double IPA. It pairs exceptionally well with Cascade, Centennial, Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe,and Columbus, adding bright orange and stone fruit character to both classic and modern hop-forward recipes.

Recommended Hop Substitutes

If Amarillo is unavailable, consider:

• Cascade – Similar citrus profile with more grapefruit and floral notes.
• Centennial – Brighter citrus and slightly higher bitterness.
• Citra – More tropical fruit with intense citrus character.
• Mosaic – Adds berry and tropical fruit complexity.
• Azacca – Juicy tropical fruit with citrus and mango notes.

Lineage & History

Unlike many modern hop varieties developed through planned breeding programs, Amarillo originated as a chance wild hop discovered growing at Virgil Gamache Farms in Washington State. Recognizing its outstanding aroma potential, the farm propagated and commercialized the variety as a proprietary cultivar. Although its exact genetic lineage has never been publicly disclosed, Amarillo quickly gained recognition for its unique sweet orange character and remains one of Yakima Chief Hops' most popular American aroma varieties. Its distinctive citrus forward profile continues to make it a cornerstone ingredient in countless craft beer recipes around the world.