Best hops for an American pale ale

Data sheet

The hops that define an American pale ale, the numbers behind them, and the strain that completes the recipe.

Use Cascade, Centennial and Amarillo. For an American pale ale these are the strongest match on aroma and bitterness.

Why these hops

Style	an American pale ale
Recommended hops	Cascade, Centennial and Amarillo
Cascade alpha / myrcene	4.5 to 7.9 % alpha, 19.4 to 55 % myrcene
Centennial alpha / myrcene	7.8 to 11.5 % alpha, 30.7 to 65.7 % myrcene
Amarillo alpha / myrcene	6.7 to 11 % alpha, 16.7 to 70 % myrcene

The American pale ale is the home of Cascade, Centennial and Amarillo: bright citrus and floral aroma over a moderate clean bitterness.

A pale ale should stay balanced against its malt; overload the dry hop and you have drifted into IPA territory rather than a sessionable pale.