Ekuanot® Hops

Dual: Aroma and BitteringAlpha 13.0 - 15.5%United States

Ekuanot® stands as an elite, high-alpha dual-purpose powerhouse meticulously bred and brought to market by the agronomic specialists at the Hop Breeding Company (HBC) in Yakima, Washington. First cross-pollinated in 2001 and evaluated for years as experimental clone HBC 366, this variety was briefly introduced to the industry as Equinox before a trademark dispute led to its permanent rebranding as Ekuanot®. Born from a high-performance maternal cross of the clean bittering titan Warrior® and a wild, open-pollinated male parent, this proprietary cultivar was engineered to break conventional sensory boundaries. Boasting a very high oil content and exceptional field performance in the soils of Toppenish, Washington, Ekuanot® has earned a stellar reputation as a highly versatile brewing tool, capable of delivering clean bittering efficiency alongside an intensely saturated, aromatic footprint that commands attention in hop-forward recipes.

The profile of Ekuanot® is an incredibly bold, complex, and fascinatingly contrasted sensory tapestry that seamlessly weaves heavy tropical sweetness with savory, rustic botanicals. The aromatic experience opens with a sharp, vibrant burst of fresh lime peel, sweet mandarin orange, and juicy papaya flesh. As the liquid moves across the palate, a highly unique secondary layer reveals itself, showcasing clean notes of sweet honeydew melon and ripe summer berries. What truly sets Ekuanot® apart from standard fruit-forward varieties is its intricate, savory herbal finish, which delivers subtle accents of crushed garden sage, cooling eucalyptus, and a faint, crisp snap of green bell pepper. This brilliant juxtaposition of sugary tropical fruit and fresh garden aromatics ensures that Ekuanot® provides an exceptionally deep, multi-dimensional flavor profile that never gets lost in a heavy malt bill.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Ekuanot, the best alternatives are Citra®, Mosaic®, or Simcoe®.

At A Glance

ProfileZesty Lime Peel, Fresh Papaya Flesh, Bright Mandarin Orange, Crisp Green Bell Pepper, Crushed Sage, Honeydew Melon, Eucalyptus
PurposeDual: Aroma and Bittering
Alpha Acid13.0 - 15.5%
SubstitutesCitra®, Mosaic®, Simcoe®
Pairs withCitra® (to amplify the bright lime and citrus elements while layering sweet mango over Ekuanot's papaya and melon base), El Dorado® (to balance Ekuanot's savory herbal undertones with a shot of pure, Mosaic® (to build a massively complex medley of dark berries/stone fruit/and rich tropical characteristics), candy-like tropical fruit sweetness)
Beer StylesNew England India Pale Ale, West Coast India Pale Ale, American Pale Ale, Double India Pale Ale, Belgian Saison, Session India Pale Ale, American Wheat Beer

General Information

Country
United States
Aliases
Equinox, HBC 366
Storage Stability
Retains 60 - 65% alpha acid

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid
13.0 - 15.5%
Beta Acid
4.0 - 5.5%
Cohumulone
22.0 - 24.0%
Total Oil
2.0 - 4.0 ml/100g
Myrcene
30.0 - 45.0%
Humulene
12.0 - 20.0%
Caryophyllene
8.0 - 12.0%
Farnesene
< 1.0%
Linalool
0.2 - 0.5%
B-Pinene
0.4 - 0.8%
Geraniol
0.2%

Growth & Cultivation

Yield
2,200 - 2,600 lbs/acre
Maturity
Middle to Late State
Resistant
Displays excellent native field resistance to common hop yard pathogens, showing high resilience against Powdery Mildew.
Tolerant
Highly tolerant to standard Downy Mildew variants and well-adapted to the standard growing climate of the Yakima Valley.
Growth Rate
Very High / Exceptionally Vigorous
Cones
Uniquely compact, pale green, and exceptionally dense cones that are heavily loaded with deep golden lupulin.
Ease of Harvest
Excellent (The strong bine framework and uniform cone distribution allow the bines to be stripped cleanly on high-speed commercial stationary picking lines).
Sex
Female
Leaf Color
Dark Green: with a distinct pale yellowish-green shade visible on the inner foliage of the vine.

Ekuanot® Aroma/Flavor Profile

Aroma
Flavor
CitrusTropical FruitStone FruitApple/PearMelonBerryFloralSpicy/HerbalPineResinGrassEarthy/WoodyOnion/GarlicDank/Catty

Discovery Tags

Breeding/Supplier

Last Updated
  • 2026-05-29 23:27:59