Tillicum® Hops: Profile & Substitutions

Description

Tillicum® is a high-performance American bittering hop that represents the evolution of Pacific Northwest breeding. Released in 1995 by the John I. Haas program, it was developed from a cross between the legendary Galena and a select Haas male. Its name, derived from Chinook Jargon meaning "people," "family," or "friends," reflects its deep roots in the Washington hop-growing community.

As a sister variety to Chelan, Tillicum® was engineered to be a "Super-Galena." It offers the same rugged reliability as its parent but with higher alpha acid efficiency and superior storage stability. While it is a primary choice for commercial hop extracts, craft brewers have reclaimed Tillicum as a foundational bittering hop. It provides a clean, dependable bitterness that remains stable even in high-gravity beers with heavy malt profiles.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Tillicum, the best alternatives are Chelan, Chinook, Galena, or Nugget.

At A Glance

Profile Stone Fruit, Citrus, Woody, Resinous, Grapefruit, Dried Herbs, Spicy
Purpose Bittering
Alpha Acid 9.5 - 11.5%
Substitutes Chelan, Chinook, Galena, Nugget
Pairs with Cascade (to brighten the citrus notes), Centennial (for a classic "C-hop" profile), Columbus / Tomahawk / Zeus (CTZ) (for added dankness and resin)
Beer Styles American India Pale Ale, Imperial Stout, Barleywine, Pale Ale

General Information

Country United States
Alias H87207-2
Storage Stability
Retains 80% alpha acid.

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid 9.5 - 11.5%
Beta Acid 9.5 - 11.5%
Cohumulone 32.0 - 38.0%
Total Oil 1.5 - 2.5 ml/100g
Myrcene 45.0 - 55.0%
Humulene 12.0 - 18.0%
Caryophyllene 7.0 - 11.0%
Farnesene < 1.0%
Linalool 0.3 - 0.5%

Growth & Cultivation

Yield 2,000 - 2,400 lbs/acre
Maturity Early to mid season
Resistant Verticillium Wilt
Susceptible Downy Mildew (moderate), Powdery Mildew
Growth Rate High
Cones Medium-sized, very dense, and packed with high-lupulin content
Ease of Harvest Excellent; the bines are robust and cones are easily detached by mechanical pickers
Sex Female
Leaf Color Green
Side Arm Length 20" - 30"

Discovery Tags

Flavor/Aroma
Citrus Dried Herbs Grapefruit Resinous Spicy Stone Fruit Woody
Variety Name
Cascade Centennial Chelan Chinook Columbus Galena Nugget
Beer Style
American India Pale Ale Barleywine Imperial Stout Pale Ale
Usage
Bittering
Origin
United States
Breeding/Supplier
John I. Haas
Last Updated
  • 2026-03-03 19:33:46
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

  • #Stone-Fruit (Orchard Vibe)

    Saturday is for smooth sipping. From fuzzy peach to ripe apricot, these hops add a soft, rounded sweetness to the aroma of Pale Ales and Sours. Explore #Stone-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.