Pentham Golding Hops

AromaAlpha 4.0 - 5.5%United Kingdom

Pentham Golding is a rare and storied member of the Golding family, representing the historic diversity of the English hop garden. Bred by the Wye College Institute for Hop Research in Kent in 1968, it stands out from other Golding selections due to its unique growth habit—featuring stiff sidearms that grow notably upwards. As a "Late Golding" variety, it was historically valued for its late-season maturity, allowing traditional growers to manage their harvest flow while maintaining the esteemed quality of a true landrace descendant. While it has largely moved into the realm of heritage preservation, it remains a sought-after variety for brewers looking to recreate authentic Victorian-era ales with a genuine piece of British botanical history.

The sensory profile of Pentham Golding is an exercise in subtle, classic sophistication. It leads with a primary, "noble" bouquet of lavender, dried flowers, and sweet honey, followed by a sophisticated secondary layer of delicate spice and fresh-cut grass. As the profile develops, brewers will find a refined herbal tea character and a very soft, woody earthiness that is synonymous with the finest English hops. Thanks to its high humulene content and low cohumulone levels, Pentham Golding delivers an incredibly smooth, "mellow" bitterness and a clean finish, making it the definitive choice for a timeless, gentle aromatic depth.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Pentham Golding, the best alternatives are East Kent Golding, First Gold, Progress, or Whitbread Golding.

At A Glance

ProfileLavender, Dried Flowers, Sweet Honey, Delicate Spice, Fresh-Cut Grass, Herbal Tea, Woody Earthiness
PurposeAroma
Alpha Acid4.0 - 5.5%
SubstitutesEast Kent Golding, First Gold, Progress, Whitbread Golding
Pairs withChallenger (to establish a crisp/spicy bittering foundation), First Gold (to add a touch of modern orange-marmalade brightness), Fuggle (to provide a rustic/earthy counterpoint)
Beer StylesOrdinary Bitter, English Pale Ale, ESB, Belgian Single, Cask Ale

General Information

Country
United Kingdom
Storage Stability
Retains 57% alpha acid

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid
4.0 - 5.5%
Beta Acid
2.0 - 3.0%
Cohumulone
20.0 - 25.0%
Total Oil
0.4 - 1.0 ml/100g
Myrcene
25.0 - 35.0%
Humulene
35.0 - 45.0%
Caryophyllene
12.0 - 16.0%
Farnesene
<1.0%
Linalool
~0.4%

Growth & Cultivation

Yield
1,000 - 1,400 lbs/acre
Maturity
Late season
Susceptible
Downy mildew (moderate), Powdery Mildew (moderate)
Growth Rate
Moderate to high
Cones
Small to medium, oval, and relatively compact. The cones are noted for their fine, pale-yellow lupul
Ease of Harvest
Good; the bines are structurally sound, though like most heritage Goldings, the cones can be somewha
Sex
Female
Leaf Color
Medium green
Side Arm Length
12" - 22" (short to medium)

Discovery Tags

Usage

Last Updated
  • 2026-04-12 14:28:52