Keyworth's Early Hops: Profile & Substitutions

Description

Keyworth's Early is a rugged pioneer of the mid-century British hop industry and a direct relative of the Midseason variety. Released in 1949 from the East Malling Research Station in Kent, it was developed by Professor Salmon as a vital defense against Verticillium wilt. By blending the untamed genetics of a wild New Mexican hop with traditional British stock, Salmon created a variety with a "New World" intensity decades before the concept existed. Although its commercial acreage eventually declined due to lower yields compared to its siblings, it has seen a modern revival through Charles Faram, remaining a landmark variety for brewers exploring the high-oil, high-impact roots of historical English ales.

The profile of Keyworth's Early is a pungent and soulful arrangement of bright citrus and dark forest fruits. It leads with a primary bouquet of lemon zest, grapefruit, and wild blackberry, followed by a sophisticated secondary layer of sticky pine resin and earthy tobacco. Unlike the polite, floral hops common in the 1940s, Keyworth's Early is assertive and bold, offering a "wild" aromatic edge and a peppery spice that cuts through heavy malt bills. On the palate, it imparts a firm and lasting bitterness that provides the perfect counterpoint to the rich, biscuit-like sweetness of Maris Otter malts, making it the definitive choice for recreating authentic, historical strong ales.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Keyworth's Early, the best alternatives are Bramling Cross, Brewer's Gold, Bullion, or Northern Brewer.

At A Glance

Profile Lemon, Grapefruit, Blackcurrant, Resinous Pine, Blackberry, Tobacco, Earth
Purpose Dual: Aroma and Bittering
Alpha Acid 6.5 - 8.5%
Substitutes Bramling Cross, Brewer's Gold, Bullion, Northern Brewer
Pairs with Bramling Cross (to push the dark fruit/blackcurrant notes), Challenger (to add a touch of cedar and crispness), Target (to emphasize a heavy/resinous bitterness)
Beer Styles Historical English India Pale Ale, Foreign Extra Stout, Barleywine, Strong Bitter

General Information

Country United Kingdom
Alias OR48
Storage Stability
Good

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid 6.5 - 8.5%
Beta Acid 3.0 - 4.5%
Cohumulone 38.0 - 45.0%
Total Oil 1.0 - 1.8 ml/100g
Myrcene 40.0 - 50.0%
Humulene 15.0 - 22.0%
Caryophyllene 8.0 - 12.0%
Farnesene < 1.0%

Growth & Cultivation

Yield 1,400 - 1,800 lbs/acre
Maturity Early
Resistant Verticillium Wilt (high)
Susceptible Downy Mildew
Growth Rate Very High / Vigorous
Cones Medium-sized, firm, and heavily resinous. The cones are noted for their high lupulin density, which
Ease of Harvest Excellent; as an early-maturing variety, it allowed British farmers to begin their harvest weeks bef
Sex Female
Leaf Color Medium to Dark Green
Side Arm Length 20" - 35" (Medium to Long)

Discovery Tags

Flavor/Aroma
Blackberry Blackcurrant Earth Grapefruit Lemon Pine Resin Tobacco
Variety Name
Bramling Cross Brewer’s Gold Bullion Challenger Northern Brewer Target
Beer Style
Barleywine Foreign Extra Stout Historical English India Pale Ale Strong Bitter
Usage
Dual: Aroma And Bittering
Origin
United Kingdom
Breeding/Supplier
East Malling Research
Last Updated
  • 2026-05-10 09:29:12
Source(s)
  • Google Gemini

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.