Sterling Hops
AromaAlpha 5.5 - 9.0%United States
Sterling is a masterful American aroma hop that brings the legendary refinement of the Old World into the modern era. Developed by the United States Department of Agriculture breeding program in 1990 and officially released in 1998, Sterling was specifically engineered to be a domestic successor to the classic Czech Saaz, which at the time suffered from unreliable availability.
Researchers created this "complex" variety (some might call it a high-bred mutt) by crossing Saaz (50%) with Cascade (25%), Brewer's Gold, and Early Green. This pedigree allows Sterling to possess the delicate "Noble" characteristics of its ancestors while offering the improved vigor and resin content of American cultivars. It has become a cornerstone for craft brewers who require a clean, sophisticated aromatic profile for traditional lagers, proving that domestic hops can achieve a level of elegance equal to the finest European landrace varieties.
Looking for an alternative?
Run Sterling through our Hop Substitutor to find chemical and flavor matches ranked for your brewing goal.
If you can't find Sterling, the best alternatives are Liberty, Lubelski, Mount Hood, Saaz, or Santiam.
Similar hops (calculated)
View hop substitutes for Sterling →Match scores use aroma/flavor charts and chemistry — estimates only.
At A Glance
| Profile | Fresh-cut Hay, Sweet Resins, Pepper, Spicy, Citrus Undertones, Lemon Zest, Orange Peel, Chamomile, Wildflowers |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Aroma |
| Alpha Acid | 5.5 - 9.0% |
| Substitutes | Liberty, Lubelski, Mount Hood, Saaz, Santiam |
| Pairs with | Cascade (to lean into the floral notes), Hallertauer Tradition (for a clean and integrated European profile), Saaz (to reinforce the noble spice) |
| Beer Styles | Pilsner, Lager, Witbier, Saison, Belgian Ale, American Pale Ale |
Genetics & family tree
Curated parent and offspring links for Sterling. View Sterling family tree & lineage chart → Recipe swaps are on the Hop Substitutor.
General Information
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Alias | USDA 21689 |
| Storage Stability | Maintains 60% - 75% alpha acid |
Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)
| Alpha Acid | 5.5 - 9.0% |
|---|---|
| Beta Acid | 4.5 - 6.0% |
| Cohumulone | 22.0 - 28.0% |
| Total Oil | 1.3. - 1.9 ml/100g |
| Myrcene | 44.0 - 48.0% |
| Humulene | 19.0 - 23.0% |
| Caryophyllene | 5.0 - 8.0% |
| Farnesene | 11.0 - 17.0% |
| Linalool | 0.3 - 0.5% |
| B-Pinene | 0.5 - 0.6% |
| Geraniol | 0.2 - 0.4% |
Growth & Cultivation
| Yield | 1,400 - 1,800 lbs/acre |
|---|---|
| Maturity | Mid-season |
| Resistant | Downy Mildew, Powdery Mildew |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to high |
| Cones | Medium-sized, relatively dense, and very rich in aromatic lupulin |
| Ease of Harvest | Excellent; the bines are structurally sound and the variety is well-suited for high-volume mechanica |
| Sex | Female |
| Leaf Color | Dark green |
| Side Arm Length | 24" - 36" |
Sterling Aroma/Flavor Profile
- 2026-03-29 14:33:18
- https://freshops.com/usda-named-hop-variety-descriptions/#usda_id_21689
- https://www.mrbeer.com/sterling-hops
- https://learn.kegerator.com/sterling-hops/
- http://www.hopslist.com/hops/dual-purpose-hops/sterling/
- https://crosbyhops.com/shop-hops/hop-catalog/sterling
- http://brulosophy.com/2020/02/06/the-hop-chronicles-sterling-2018/
- https://www.hopsteiner.com/variety-data-sheets/Sterling/
- Google Gemini