Cascade Hops: Profile & Substitutions

Description

Cascade stands as an absolute legend and the definitive genetic pioneer of modern craft brewing, universally recognized as the superstar hop that ignited the microbrewing revolution in the United States. Developed within the United States Department of Agriculture public breeding program at Oregon State University's East Farm in Corvallis by Dr. Stanley Brooks and Dr. Charles Zimmermann, it was first selected as an open-pollinated seedling in 1956 and officially released in 1972 under the designation USDA 21092. Named after the majestic Pacific Northwest mountain range, its pedigree forms a fascinating intercontinental bridge, crossing an English Fuggle clone with the rare Russian variety Serebrianka. Though macro-breweries initially rejected its pungent traits, it was immortalized when early craft trailblazers used it to anchor their flagship pale ales. Boasting an alpha-to-beta acid ratio that directly mirrors classic European aroma hops, Cascade permanently shifted the global beer landscape and paved the way for the bold, hop-forward styles celebrated today.

The sensory blueprint of Cascade delivers a timeless, highly evocative masterclass in bright American citrus and crisp, rustic botanical character that completely sidesteps any heavy sulfur or harsh onion notes. The bouquet opens with an unmistakable, headlining perfume of freshly squeezed ruby-red grapefruit, sweet orange peel, and vibrant lemon zest. This sunny citrus canopy is beautifully balanced by a deep, expressive middle section rich with crushed pine needles, fresh floral lily petals, and damp woodland soil. Deep in the background, a highly comforting layer of warm herbal spices, dried tarragon, and soft wood shavings emerges to create a perfectly integrated, harmonious bouquet. Because it contains a healthy concentration of biotransformable free alcohols like linalool and geraniol, Cascade interacts beautifully with active yeast during fermentation, yielding an iconic, incredibly crisp profile and a smooth, classic bitterness.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Cascade, the best alternatives are Ahtanum®, Amarillo®, Cashmere, or Centennial.

At A Glance

Profile Bright Grapefruit, Fresh Orange Peel, Resinous Pine, Soft Floral Lily, Lemon Zest, Herbal Spice, Earthy
Purpose Dual: Aroma and Bittering
Alpha Acid 4.5 - 7.0%
Substitutes Ahtanum®, Amarillo®, Cashmere, Centennial
Pairs with Centennial (to weave a seamlessly smooth/multi-generational citrus punch), Chinook (the classic historic American pairing/anchoring Cascade's bright grapefruit with heavy resinous pine), Columbus / Tomahawk / Zeus (CTZ) (to layer a deep/pungent dankness underneath the bright floral top notes)
Beer Styles American Pale Ale, American India Pale Ale, Amber Ale, American Stout, Porter, Blonde Ale, Barleywine, American Wheat

General Information

Country United States
Aliases USDA 21092, USDA 56013 (early developmental selection number)
Storage Stability
Retains 48 - 52% alpha acid

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid 4.5 - 7.0%
Beta Acid 4.5 - 7.0%
Cohumulone 33.0 - 40.0%
Total Oil 0.7 - 2.5 ml/100g
Myrcene 45.0 - 60.0%
Humulene 8.0 - 20.0%
Caryophyllene 3.0 - 9.0%
Farnesene 3.0 - 9.0%
Linalool 0.4 - 0.6%
B-Pinene 0.5 - 0.8%
Geraniol 0.2 - 0.5%
Selinene 0.5 - 1.5%
Total Polyphenols 4.0 - 5.5%
Xanthohumol 01 - 0.4%

Growth & Cultivation

Yield 1,400 - 2,000 lbs/acre
Maturity Medium-Early to Medium Season
Resistant Downy Mildew (Excellent)
Tolerant Powdery Mildew, Verticillium Wilt
Susceptible Highly susceptible to the Hop Latent Viroid (HLVd) and susceptible to typical mosaic viruses if introduced to uncertified rootstock.
Growth Rate Very High / Aggressive Vigor
Cones Medium-sized, moderately dense, nicely compact, elongated ovoid structures that form uniform hanging groupings.
Ease of Harvest Excellent; sturdy bines and a highly uniform cone set along its lateral side arms allow for remarkably clean, efficient mechanical stripping and processing with minimal shattering.
Sex Female
Leaf Color Medium to Deep Green
Side Arm Length 24" - 36" (Medium)

Cascade Aroma/Flavor Profile

Discovery Tags

Flavor/Aroma
Earth Floral Grapefruit Herbal Lemon Lily Orange Pine Resin Spice
Variety Name
Ahtanum Amarillo Cashmere Centennial Chinook Columbus
Beer Style
Amber Ale American India Pale Ale American Pale Ale American Stout American Wheat Barleywine Blonde Ale Porter
Usage
Dual: Aroma And Bittering
Origin
United States
Breeding/Supplier
United States Department Of Agriculture
Last Updated
  • 2026-06-11 16:53:19
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

  • #Tropical-Fruit (Vacation in a Glass)

    Mid-week escape. Looking for massive notes of mango, pineapple, or passionfruit? These hops are the stars of hazy pales and juicy NEIPAs. Explore #Tropical-Fruit 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.