Emerald Spire™ Hops

AromaAlpha 8.0 - 12.8%United States

Breeding & lineage: Proprietary open-pollinated or controlled cross selection. The specific genetic parentage is tightly held under proprietary protection by Great Lakes

Genetics & family tree

Curated parent and offspring links for Emerald Spire. View Emerald Spire family tree & lineage chart → Recipe swaps are on the Hop Substitutor.

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Emerald Spire™ stands as a captivating contemporary American aroma cultivar meticulously developed, propagated, and brought to market by the agronomic breeding team at Great Lakes Hops in Michigan. Bred specifically to thrive and excel outside of the traditional Pacific Northwest hop growing regions, this proprietary variety has quickly captured the attention of forward-thinking craft brewers for its incredible aromatic potency, exceptional field vigor, and distinctive performance during active fermentation. Named for its striking emerald-green coloration and towering, majestic structural growth habits in the yard, Emerald Spire™ functions as a highly specialized weapon for modern beer designers. It masterfully bridges the gap between intense New World fruitiness and old-world structural elegance, allowing brewers to capture a coveted, juicy aromatic character while maintaining a crisp, highly drinkable finish.

The profile of Emerald Spire™ is a remarkably vibrant, multi-layered, and fruit-forward sensory tapestry that transitions seamlessly from sweet confectionery notes to elegant, sophisticated vineyard characteristics. Upon opening or pouring, it unleashes a heavy, fragrant wave of fresh ripe peaches, classic "Juicy Fruit" candy sweetness, and juicy slices of pink watermelon. As the liquid moves across the mid-palate, it reveals complex secondary layers of retro bubblegum, sweet honeydew melon, and the clean, crisp bite of green melon rind. What truly elevates Emerald Spire™ above standard fruit-forward varieties is its brilliant finish: it wraps up with an undeniable top-note of fresh white grapes and a distinct, effervescent, champagne-like dryness that instantly scrubs away any heavy residual sweetness, leaving the palate beautifully refreshed and primed for the next sip.

Looking for an alternative?

Run Emerald Spire through our Hop Substitutor to find chemical and flavor matches ranked for your brewing goal.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Emerald Spire, the best alternatives are Calypso™, El Dorado®, Hallertau Blanc, or Nelson Sauvin™.

Match scores use aroma/flavor charts and chemistry — estimates only.

At A Glance

ProfileSweetness, White Grape Must, Watermelon, Bubblegum, Honeydew Melon
PurposeAroma
Alpha Acid8.0 - 12.8%
SubstitutesCalypso™, El Dorado®, Hallertau Blanc, Nelson Sauvin™
Pairs withCitra® (to introduce a massive, Huell Melon (to drive the sweet honeydew/cantaloupe/and refreshing melon attributes into absolute overdrive), Mosaic® (to build a highly complex berry/stone fruit/and light dank tropical punch), complementary tropical mango and bright grapefruit canopy over Emerald Spire's delicate white grape and peach base)
Beer StylesNew England/Hazy India Pale Ale, Modern West Coast India Pale Ale, Brut India Pale Ale, American Pale Ale, Session India Pale Ale, Gose, Fruit-Forward Sour, Rosé Ale, Blonde Ale

General Information

Country
United States
Storage Stability
Good

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid
8.0 - 12.8%
Beta Acid
3.5 - 4.5%
Cohumulone
37.3%
Total Oil
1.2 - 1.8 ml/100g
Myrcene
25.2%
Humulene
10.9%
Caryophyllene
7.8%
Farnesene
3.9%
Geraniol
0.3%

Growth & Cultivation

Maturity
Mid to late season
Resistant
Demonstrates strong native field resistance to common hop-yard pathogens and seasonal environmental pressures characteristic of the upper Midwest.
Susceptible
Highly tolerant to local cold winter conditions and standard regional soil profiles.
Growth Rate
High / Vigorous
Cones
Fragrant, well-formed, and densely packed with bright lupulin.
Ease of Harvest
Excellent (The plant’s structural framework and uniform cone clustering adapt cleanly to mechanical picking, sorting, and pelleting lines).
Sex
Female
Leaf Color
Medium to Deep Green
Side Arm Length
12" - 30"

Discovery Tags

Usage

Breeding/Supplier

Last Updated
  • 2026-05-28 21:54:50