Southern Dawn Hops
Dual: Aroma and BitteringAlpha 10.0 - 15.0%South Africa
Flavor & aroma
Genetics & family tree
Curated parent and offspring links for Southern Dawn. View Southern Dawn family tree & lineage chart → Recipe swaps are on the Hop Substitutor.
Southern Dawn represents the next generation of South African breeding excellence, developed by the South African Breweries program in the George region. As a "short-day" cultivar specifically adapted to Southern Hemisphere light cycles, it is often viewed as a bolder, more aromatic evolution of Southern Promise. This high-performance variety was engineered to provide brewers with a high-intensity dual-purpose hop, offering an impressive resin content and a stable oil profile that delivers a clean, firm bitterness without sacrificing aromatic complexity.
The sensory profile is a vibrant arrangement of crisp citrus and soft stone fruits. It leads with a primary bouquet of fresh grapefruit and lemon zest, followed by delicate layers of apricot and sweet melon. As the profile develops, a refined herbal backbone of green tea and spice provides a clean, rustic finish. Thanks to its well-balanced cohumulone levels, Southern Dawn delivers a smooth, rounded bitterness that perfectly supports its fruit-forward character, making it a sophisticated choice for modern, hop-forward recipes.
Looking for an alternative?
Run Southern Dawn through our Hop Substitutor to find chemical and flavor matches ranked for your brewing goal.
If you can't find Southern Dawn, the best alternatives are Chinook, Northern Brewer, Nugget, or Southern Star.
Similar hops (calculated)
View hop substitutes for Southern Dawn →- Lucan47.3%
- Yeoman46.1%
- Wye Viking39%
- Marco Polo32.7%
- Marynka30.8%
- Legacy30.8%
Match scores use aroma/flavor charts and chemistry — estimates only.
At A Glance
| Profile | Citrus, Stone Fruit, Fresh Grapefruit, Lemon Zest, Apricot, Sweet Melon, Herbal, Green Tea, Spicy |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Dual: Aroma and Bittering |
| Alpha Acid | 10.0 - 15.0% |
| Substitutes | Chinook, Northern Brewer, Nugget, Southern Star |
| Pairs with | Citra® (for a citrus boost), Southern Passion (to amplify tropical notes), Southern Promise (to ground the fruit with a refined herbal base) |
| Beer Styles | Pale Ale, India Pale Ale, Modern Lager, Hoppy Pilsner, Stout |
General Information
| Country | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Storage Stability | Retains 80% alpha acid |
Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)
| Alpha Acid | 10.0 - 15.0% |
|---|---|
| Beta Acid | 5.0 - 6.0% |
| Cohumulone | 24.0 - 28.0% |
| Total Oil | 1.2 - 1.8 ml/100g |
| Myrcene | 35.0 - 45.0% |
| Humulene | 20.0 - 30.0% |
| Caryophyllene | 8.0 - 12.0% |
| Farnesene | < 1.0% |
| Linalool | 0.4 - 0.7% |
| Geraniol | ~0.3% |
Growth & Cultivation
| Yield | 1,700 - 2,100 lbs/acre |
|---|---|
| Maturity | Mid-season |
| Resistant | Common hop diseases (excellent) |
| Growth Rate | Very high |
| Cones | Medium-sized, oval-shaped, and relatively dense with high lupulin saturation |
| Ease of Harvest | Excellent; specifically selected for its suitability for modern mechanical picking and processing |
| Sex | Female |
| Leaf Color | Medium-dark green |
| Side Arm Length | 20" - 30" |
- 2026-03-31 23:42:53