Opal Hops: Profile & Substitutions

Description

Opal was bred by Hüll Hop Research Institute in 2001, released commercially in 2004. The hop has not been well received the commercial breweries.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Opal, the best alternatives are East Kent Golding, Smaragd, or Styrian Golding.

At A Glance

Profile Sweet, spice (pepper, aniseed), herbal (grass) and light orange.
Purpose Dual: Aroma and Bittering
Alpha Acid 5.0 - 8.0%
Substitutes East Kent Golding, Smaragd, Styrian Golding
Beer Styles Pilsner, Lager, Blonde Ale

General Information

Country Germany
Storage Stability
Retains 60%-70% alpha acid contents after 6 months of storage at 68°F.

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid 5.0 - 8.0%
Beta Acid 3.5 - 5.5%
Cohumulone 15.0 - 17.0%
Total Oil 0.8 - 1.3 ml/100g
Myrcene 30.0 - 45.0%
Humulene 20.0 - 25.0%
Caryophyllene 9.0 - 10.0%
Farnesene < 1.0%
Linalool 0.19 - 0.20%

Growth & Cultivation

Yield 1420 - 1470 lbs/acre
Maturity Medium early
Resistant Verticillium wilt, downy mildew, powdery mildew
Tolerant Aphid
Growth Rate Moderate
Ease of Harvest Difficult

Opal Aroma/Flavor Profile

Discovery Tags

Flavor/Aroma
Aniseed Grass Orange Pepper Sweet
Variety Name
East Kent Golding Smaragd Styrian Golding
Beer Style
Blonde Ale Lagers Pilsner
Usage
Dual: Aroma And Bittering
Origin
Germany
Breeding/Supplier
Hop Research Institute
Last Updated
  • 2020-11-24 08:26:25
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

  • #Noble (Classics)

    Back to the roots. European "Noble" hops are the elegant, low-bitterness varieties that defined Pilsners and Lagers for centuries. Explore the spicy, floral heritage of the Old World. Explore #Noble 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.