Chinook Hop Pellets 1 oz

Chinook is a bold American dual purpose hop known for its assertive bitterness and distinctive pine forward aroma. Developed by the USDA breeding program and released in 1985, Chinook quickly became a favorite for American craft brewers thanks to its combination of high alpha acids and complex flavor profile. While originally valued as a bittering hop, its expressive aroma has made it equally popular in late additions and dry hopping, particularly in hop forward ales.

Technical Specifications

• Manufacturer: Yakima Chief Hops
• Hop Type: Dual Purpose
• Origin: United States
• Alpha Acid: 11.0 - 15.0%
• Beta Acid: 3.0 - 4.0%
• Cohumulone: 29 - 35%

Flavor & Aroma Profile

Chinook is renowned for its bold notes of pine, grapefruit, resin, and spice, balanced by hints of citrus peel, herbs, and light floral character. Early additions produce a firm, clean bitterness, while whirlpool and dry hop additions showcase its signature piney aroma with layers of grapefruit and subtle earthy spice. Its robust profile makes Chinook an excellent choice for brewers seeking classic West Coast hop character.

Brewing Applications

Chinook excels in West Coast IPA, American IPA, Double IPA, American Pale Ale, Red IPA, Amber Ale, Porter,and Stout. It pairs exceptionally well with Cascade, Centennial, Columbus, Simcoe, Citra, and Mosaic, adding resinous pine and citrus complexity to traditional and modern hop combinations.

Recommended Hop Substitutes

If Chinook is unavailable, consider:

• Columbus – Similar pine and resin with a more dank character.
• Northern Brewer – Woody, minty, and pine forward with moderate bitterness.
• Centennial – Bright citrus with lighter pine and floral notes.
• Cascade – More grapefruit and floral character with lower bitterness.
• Simcoe – Pine, passion fruit, and citrus with added tropical complexity.

Lineage & History

Chinook was developed by the USDA breeding program from a cross between Petham Golding and the USDA male hop 63012M, a breeding line derived from Brewer's Gold genetics. The goal was to create a vigorous, high-alpha hop capable of delivering clean bitterness while retaining a distinctive American aroma. Since its release in 1985, Chinook has become one of Yakima Chief Hops' flagship varieties and remains a defining ingredient in classic American and West Coast style beers, where its unmistakable pine and grapefruit character continues to be highly sought after.