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Columbus

Dual PurposeVery High AlphaUS
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About

The exact lineage of the proprietary hop Columbus is unknown. Its namesake was created in part as the result of a legal dispute between Hopunion and Yakima Chief when both parties attempted to patent the same hop. Yakima Chief's variety was named Tomahawk. After an agreement was reached, both names were registered. They are technically the same hop however.

Origin

Three hop varieties with very high alpha properties were all produced at the same time (the two above plus Zeus) and sold to different grower groups. Since then it has been proven that Columbus and Tomahawk are the same variety (by gas chromatograph) and Zeus is so similar that it is indistinguishable from the other two in the finished product! These hops have taken the USA by storm and acreage of all other US varieties seem to be suffering because of it. They are all be labeled as Super High Alpha.

Flavor & Aroma Characteristics

Lemon GrassVanillaOrange PeelCurryLemonResinousBlack PepperEarthyLicoriceSpicyCitrusFloralPungentDankCannabis

Recommended Beer Styles

Imperial Brown AleBarley WineImperial StoutAmerican AlesStout

Substitutes

Oil Composition

Myrcene
25-55%
Humulene
9-25%
Caryophyllene
6-12%
Farnesene
0-1%

Acid Profile

Alpha Acid14.0 - 18.0%
Beta Acid4.5 - 6.0%
Co-Humulone28-35%

Technical Details

Total Oil1.5-4.5 mL/100g
HSI0.45
Flavor Intensity9/10
Brewing Usebittering, late addition, dry hop
StorabilityRetains 50%-60% alpha acid after 6 months storage at 20°C (68°F)

External Resources