Pentham Golding Hops: Profile & Substitutions

Description

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

Profile Lavender, Dried Flowers, Sweet Honey, Delicate Spice, Fresh-Cut Grass, Herbal Tea, Woody Earthiness
Purpose Aroma
Alpha Acid 4.0 - 5.5%
Substitutes East Kent Golding, First Gold, Progress, Whitbread Golding
Pairs with Challenger (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 Styles Ordinary 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

Flavor/Aroma
Dried Flowers Earthy Fresh-cut Grass Herbal Tea Honey Lavender Spicy Woody
Variety Name
Challenge East Kent Golding First Gold Fuggle Progress Whitbread Golding
Beer Style
Belgian Single Cask Ale English Pale Ale Esb Ordinary Bitter
Usage
Aroma
Origin
United Kingdom
Breeding/Supplier
Wye College
Last Updated
  • 2026-04-12 08:28:52
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

  • #Floral (The Delicate Finish)

    A mellow Sunday pour. From jasmine to dried rose petals, floral hops provide a sophisticated aroma without overpowering the palate. Perfect for delicate Belgian styles. Explore #Floral 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.