Progress Hops: Profile & Substitutions

Description

Progress is a distinguished British aroma hop that captures a pivotal moment in the evolution of English brewing. Bred in 1951 at Wye College by Horticulture Research International and commercially released in 1964, it was engineered by Professor Neve to be the successor to Fuggle. This variety was born from a cross between a Whitbread Golding Variety (WGV) female and a US male plant, specifically designed to combat the Verticillium Wilt that plagued traditional Fuggle gardens. While it brought improved vigor and higher yields to growers, it became a favorite of brewers for its sophisticated, mellow profile and refined balance, serving as a cornerstone for traditional cask ales and heritage bitters.

The sensory profile of Progress is a masterful arrangement of soft bitterness and classic English spice. It leads with a primary, "mellow" bouquet of sweet honey, fresh-cut grass, and a refined floral sweetness, followed by a sophisticated secondary layer of earthy mint and cedar. As the profile develops, brewers will find a subtle, marmalade-like fruitiness and a clean, peppery spice that is notably brighter and less "grassy" than a traditional Fuggle. Thanks to its high humulene content and low cohumulone levels, Progress delivers a smooth, rounded bitterness and a polished finish, making it the definitive choice for a timeless British character with a clean aromatic edge.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Progress, the best alternatives are East Kent Golding, Fuggle, Sovereign, or Willamette.

At A Glance

Profile Sweet Honey, Fresh-Cut Grass, Floral Sweetness, Earthy Mint, Cedar, Marmalade, Pepper
Purpose Dual: Aroma and Bittering
Alpha Acid 5.0 - 7.5%
Substitutes East Kent Golding, Fuggle, Sovereign, Willamette
Pairs with Challenger (for a crisp/spicy structural foundation), East Kent Golding (to amplify floral sweetness), Fuggle (to deepen the earthy complexity)
Beer Styles English Bitter, Pale Ale, Porter, Stout, ESB, Cask Ale

General Information

Country United Kingdom
Storage Stability
Retains 74% alpha acid

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid 5.0 - 7.5%
Beta Acid 2.0 - 3.5%
Cohumulone 25.0 - 30.0%
Total Oil 0.5 - 1.2 ml/100g
Myrcene 20.0 - 30.0%
Humulene 40.0 - 50.0%
Caryophyllene 12.0 - 15.0%
Farnesene < 1.0%
Linalool 0.3 - 0.6%

Growth & Cultivation

Yield 1,500 - 1,800 lbs/acre
Maturity Mid to late season
Resistant Verticillium wilt (high)
Susceptible Downy Mildew (moderate)
Growth Rate High
Cones Medium-sized, oval, and moderately dense. They are well-regarded for their consistent lupulin produc
Ease of Harvest Excellent; the bines are structurally sound and the variety is well-suited for mechanical picking
Sex Female
Leaf Color Medium green
Side Arm Length 18" - 30"

Progress Aroma/Flavor Profile

Discovery Tags

Flavor/Aroma
Cedar Earthy Floral Fresh-cut Grass Honey Marmalade Mint Pepper
Variety Name
Challenge East Kent Golding Sovereign Willamette
Beer Style
Cask Ale English Bitter Esb Pale Ale Porter Stout
Usage
Dual: Aroma And Bittering
Origin
United Kingdom
Breeding/Supplier
Wye College
Last Updated
  • 2026-04-08 15:15:18
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

  • #Pine (West Coast Classic)

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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.