Ahtanum
About
Yakima Valley bred Ahtanum is sweet and peppery with a piney-citrus aspect. Warmly aromatic and moderately bittering, Ahtanum is a hop of distinction. It is often likened to Cascade though without going that far, it makes more sense to say that Cascade may be an acceptable substitute. In comparison, Ahtanum is less bitter, its alpha acids are lower and its grapefruit essence is significantly more pronounced. It really is more akin to Willamette, with its notes of lemon and grapefruit. Ahtanum's distinct citrus character led to it being used as the singular hop in Dogfish Head's Blood Orange Heffeweisen and Stone Brewing's Pale Ale.
Origin
Ahtanum is an aroma-type cultivar bred by Yakima Chief Ranches. Its name is derived from the area near Yakima where the first hop farm was established in 1869 by Charles Carpenter.