Yeoman Hops: Profile & Substitutions

Description

Developed at the prestigious Wye College in the 1970s and released in the early 1980s, Yeoman was bred to be the "Super-Alpha" powerhouse of its era. Designed as a more robust successor to the Target variety, it provided commercial brewers with unmatched bittering efficiency without sacrificing the soul of English hop character.

While Yeoman is no longer available for commercial purchase, its impact remains. It was a vital genetic stepping stone, used to breed the disease-resistant and high-yielding hops that modern homebrewers rely on today. For decades, it stood as the gold standard for British bittering, offering a sturdy, clean foundation that allowed the complex malts of traditional ales to take center stage.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Yeoman, the best alternatives are Admiral, Northdown, Northern Brewer, or Target.

At A Glance

Profile Earthy, Woody, Spicy, Dried Black Tea, Autumn Leaves
Purpose Dual: Aroma and Bittering
Alpha Acid 12.0 - 16.0%
Substitutes Admiral, Northdown, Northern Brewer, Target
Pairs with Challenger (for spicy fruit notes), East Kent Golding (for floral sweetness), Fuggle (for earthiness)
Beer Styles ESB, Barleywine, Stout, Porter, English India Pale Ale

General Information

Country United Kingdom
Alias Wye Yeoman
Storage Stability
Retains 80% alpha acid contents after 6 months of storage at 68°F.

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid 12.0 - 16.0%
Beta Acid 4.0 - 5.0%
Cohumulone 25.0 - 30.0%
Total Oil 1.5 - 2.5 ml/100g
Myrcene 35.0 - 45.0%
Humulene 24.0 - 30.0%
Caryophyllene 8.0 - 10.0%
Farnesene < 1.0%

Growth & Cultivation

Yield 800 - 1500 lbs/acre
Maturity Early to medium early
Resistant Downy mildew, powdery mildew, verticillium wilt
Growth Rate Very vigorous
Cones Medium to large, very dense and heavy
Ease of Harvest Good; cone profile make it well suited for mechanical picking
Sex Female
Leaf Color Deep Green
Side Arm Length 12 - 24 inches

Discovery Tags

Flavor/Aroma
Black Tea Earthy Spicy Woody
Variety Name
Admiral Challenger East Kent Golding Fuggle Northdown Northern Brewer Target
Beer Style
Barleywine English India Pale Ale Esb Porter Stout
Usage
Dual: Aroma And Bittering
Origin
United Kingdom
Breeding/Supplier
Wye College
Last Updated
  • 2026-02-28 08:08:22
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

  • #Pine (West Coast Classic)

    Kick off the weekend with a classic. Think forest floors and fresh resin. These hops provide that iconic, "crispy" evergreen aroma that defined the original American IPA. Explore #Pine 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.