Zythos® Hops

Dual: Aroma and BitteringAlpha 10.0 - 12.5%United States

Created by Hopunion (now Yakima Chief Hops) as a specialized, proprietary pellet blend, Zythos® was specifically engineered to serve as the ultimate, all-in-one powerhouse for hop-forward West Coast and New World ale styles. It is not a distinct agricultural cultivar grown on a single vine, but rather a masterfully calibrated formulation of prominent Pacific Northwest varieties designed to deliver maximum commercial efficiency and an exceptionally high concentration of essential oils. Much like the art of high-end wine blending, where the synergy of the components creates something vastly more complex than the individual parts, Zythos® acts as a "greatest hits" compilation of the American craft movement. This unique approach allows the blend to take the guesswork out of brewing world-class, heavily hopped beers while offering craft brewers and homebrewers absolute sensory consistency across their flagship brands, shielding them from the natural year-to-year crop fluctuations of individual single-variety yields.

The sensory footprint of Zythos® is an explosive, deeply saturated New World masterpiece designed for maximum impact in late-kettle, whirlpool, and cellar additions. The aromatic canopy erupts with a dominant, sweet melody of ripe pineapple, juicy tangerine, and rich, fleshy grapefruit pulp. This bright tropical and candied citrus core is beautifully balanced across the palate by heavy, grounding secondary notes of wild pine resin, subtle herbaceous greenery, and a faint hint of spicy floral undertones. Boasting an alpha-acid ceiling high enough to establish a clean, firm bittering base early in the boil, Zythos® acts as a highly versatile dual-purpose asset. It truly commands the spotlight when thrown heavily into dry-hop regimens, drenching the wort in a thick, multi-layered citrus and tropical oil matrix that delivers a smooth, mouthwatering finish and an unmistakable West Coast punch.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Zythos, the best alternatives are Amarillo®, Cascade, Falconers Flight®, or Simcoe®.

At A Glance

ProfileJuicy Tangerine, Ripe Pineapple, Grapefruit Pulp, Wild Pine Resin, Herbaceous Greenery, Spicy Floral
PurposeDual: Aroma and Bittering
Alpha Acid10.0 - 12.5%
SubstitutesAmarillo®, Cascade, Falconers Flight®, Simcoe®
Pairs withCentennial (to seamlessly lock into the authentic/soft/and spicy floral notes native to traditional American terroirs while perfectly boosting the bright tangerine and sweet grapefruit accents of Zythos), Columbus (to heavily amplify the deeply rustic/woodsy/and beautifully damp-earth baseline while providing a classic Pacific Northwest foundational layer to ground the heavy tropical notes of Zythos), Simcoe® (to bridge the gap back to intense domestic resin profiles/introducing a punchy/piney/and crisp citrus-tinged depth that cuts through heavy malts)
Beer StylesAmerican India Pale Ale, Double India Pale Ale, American Pale Ale, Session India Pale Ale, Imperial India Pale Ale, Amber Ale, Hoppy Wheat Beer

General Information

Country
United States
Storage Stability
Retains 70% alpha acid

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid
10.0 - 12.5%
Beta Acid
4.7 - 6.2%
Cohumulone
28.0 - 31.0%
Total Oil
0.7 - 1.2 ml/100g
Myrcene
45.0 - 50.0%
Humulene
13.0 - 18.0%
Caryophyllene
9.0 - 12.0%
Farnesene
< 1.0%
Linalool
0.5 - 1.0%

Discovery Tags

Usage

Breeding/Supplier

Last Updated
  • 2026-06-30 15:48:58