Warrior® Hops: Profile & Substitutions

Description

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.

Substitution Tip

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

Discovery Tags

Flavor/Aroma
Citrus Grapefruit Herbal Lemon Pineapple Spicy
Variety Name
Amarillo Apollo Bravo Cascade Centennial Chinook Citra Columbus Magnum Nugget Simcoe Summit
Beer Style
Barleywine Double India Pale Ale Imperial Stout West Coast India Pale Ale
Usage
Bittering
Origin
United States
Breeding/Supplier
Yakima Chief Ranches
Last Updated
  • 2026-03-01 09:27:07
Source(s)

Hops Catalog

Navigating This Profile
  • The Stats: Use the Purpose and Alpha % to understand the hop's bitterness and aromatic strength.
  • Discovery Tags: Scroll down to find clickable tags for Flavor, Origin, and Usage.
  • The Network: Click any tag (like #Citrus or #New Zealand) to instantly view every other hop in our catalog that shares that trait.
Discovery Tag Spotlight

  • #Noble (Classics)

    Back to the roots. European "Noble" hops are the elegant, low-bitterness varieties that defined Pilsners and Lagers for centuries. Explore the spicy, floral heritage of the Old World. Explore #Noble Hops!
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Did you know?
  • Dwarf variety hops grow shorter in height than traditional varieties but, importantly, produce the same yield. This combination makes harvest easier.
Explanations
  • Storage: is based on the percentage of alpha acids remaining after 6 months at 20*F.
  • Oil composition percetages are based on the total percentage of oil in the hop. Example: 10 - 20% means that for the specific oil it is 10 - 20% of the overall oil make up.