Summit™ Hops: Profile & Substitutions

Description

Summit™ is a revolutionary American variety that fundamentally changed the landscape of hop cultivation upon its release in 2003. Developed by the American Dwarf Hop Association and occasionally referred to as Latitude 46, Summit™ was specifically engineered as a semi-dwarf, high-alpha variety suitable for "short-wire" farming. Its lineage is a complex Washington state "gaggle," born from a cross involving Columbus, Nugget, and various male seedlings.

Despite its compact stature in the field, Summit™ is an agricultural heavyweight, boasting some of the highest alpha acid percentages in the industry. It was built for extreme performance, offering brewers a high-efficiency tool for achieving deep, structural bitterness. Beyond its commercial utility, it has become a cult staple in the craft community for its aggressive, uncompromising aromatic profile and its role in the "Dank" hop movement of the early 2000s.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Summit, the best alternatives are Apollo™, Columbus, Simcoe®, or Warrior®.

At A Glance

Profile Dank, Pink Grapefruit, Tangerine, Orange Zest, Resinous, Pine, Spicy Herbs, Pepper, Green Onion, Earthy
Purpose Dual: Aroma and Bittering
Alpha Acid 16.0 - 19.0%
Substitutes Apollo™, Columbus, Simcoe®, Warrior®
Pairs with Amarillo® (for a floral/orange boost), Citra® (to brighten the citrus), Simcoe® (to amplify the pine/dankness)
Beer Styles Imperial India Pale Ale, West Coast India Pale Ale, Stout, Barleywine, Pale Ale

General Information

Country United States
Storage Stability
Retains 85 - 88% alpha acid

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid 16.0 - 19.0%
Beta Acid 3.3 - 6.0%
Cohumulone 26.0 - 33.0%
Total Oil 1.5 - 2.5 ml/100g
Myrcene 35.0 - 50.0%
Humulene 15.0 - 25.0%
Caryophyllene 10.0 - 15.0%
Farnesene <1.0%
Linalool 0.2 - 0.4%
B-Pinene 0.3 - 0.6%
Geraniol 0.1 - 0.6%

Growth & Cultivation

Yield 1,965 - 2,410 lbs/acre
Maturity Mid-to-late season
Resistant Powdery Mildew (high), Verticillium Wilt, Phytophthora Root Rot
Susceptible Downy Mildew
Growth Rate High
Cones Small to medium, exceptionally dense, and tightly packed with golden lupulin
Ease of Harvest Excellent; the low-trellis system allows for easier mechanical harvesting and better spray coverage
Sex Female
Leaf Color Medium green
Side Arm Length 12" - 24"

Summit Aroma/Flavor Profile

Discovery Tags

Flavor/Aroma
Dank Earthy Green Onion Herbal Orange Zest Pepper Pine Pink Grapefruit Resinous Spicy Tangerine
Variety Name
Amarillo Apollo Citra Nugget Simcoe Warrior
Beer Style
Barleywine Imperial India Pale Ale Pale Ale Stout West Coast India Pale Ale
Usage
Dual: Aroma And Bittering
Origin
United States
Breeding/Supplier
American Dwarf Hop Association Latitude 46
Last Updated
  • 2026-03-26 10:10:23
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.