Warrior® Hops
BitteringAlpha 15.0 - 17.0%United States
Flavor & aroma
Warrior® is often called the "quiet professional" of the hop world. Developed by Yakima Chief Ranches, the same elite breeding program that gave us Simcoe®, it was released at the turn of the millennium to solve a specific problem: how to provide massive bittering efficiency without interfering with a beer’s delicate aromatics.
While many high-alpha hops from that era were pungent and aggressive, Warrior was bred for neutrality. It allows brewers to build a rock-solid bittering foundation that remains firmly in the background. This provides the necessary structural "grip" for high-gravity beers, ensuring the expensive aroma hops added during the whirlpool or dry-hop can truly take center stage without being overshadowed by a "hop-burnt" finish.
If you can't find Warrior, the best alternatives are Apollo™, Bravo™, Columbus, Magnum, Nugget, or Summit™.
At A Glance
| Profile | Citrus (grapefruit, lemon and pineapple), herbs and spice. |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Bittering |
| Alpha Acid | 15.0 - 17.0% |
| Substitutes | Apollo™, Bravo™, Columbus, Magnum, Nugget, Summit™ |
| Pairs with | Amarillo®, Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Citra®, Simcoe® |
| Beer Styles | West Coast India Pale Ale, Double India Pale Ale, Imperial Stout, Barleywine |
General Information
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Alias | YCR 5 |
| Storage Stability | Retains 76% alpha acid |
Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)
| Alpha Acid | 15.0 - 17.0% |
|---|---|
| Beta Acid | 4.3 - 5.5% |
| Cohumulone | 22.0 - 26.0% |
| Total Oil | 1.0 - 2.0 ml/100g |
| Myrcene | 40.0 - 50.0% |
| Humulene | 15.0 - 19.0% |
| Caryophyllene | 8.0 - 11.0% |
| Farnesene | < 1.0% |
| Linalool | 0.2 - 1.0% |
| B-Pinene | 0.5 - 0.8% |
| Geraniol | 0.4- 0.8% |
Growth & Cultivation
| Yield | 2,100 - 2,500 lbs/acre |
|---|---|
| Maturity | Middle |
| Tolerant | Powdery Mildew (high) |
| Growth Rate | High |
| Cones | Medium size with moderate density |
| Ease of Harvest | Considered "Difficult" due to its dense growth habit, but well-suited for professional mechanical pi |
| Sex | Female |
| Leaf Color | Deep green |
| Side Arm Length | Medium to long |
Warrior® Aroma/Flavor Profile
- 2026-03-01 16:27:07