Cascade vs Amarillo: which hop to use

Data sheet

The two hops side by side on the numbers and aroma that decide it, and which to reach for.

Published hop data side by side

Origin	Cascade: United States · Amarillo: United States
Cascade alpha acid	4.5 to 7.9 %
Amarillo alpha acid	6.7 to 11 %
Cascade total oil	up to 1.4 mL/100 g
Amarillo total oil	up to 1.9 mL/100 g
Cascade myrcene	19.4 to 55 %
Amarillo myrcene	16.7 to 70 %
Cascade aroma	Pink grapefruit with floral, citrus and light spice; the original American craft aroma
Amarillo aroma	Fruity apricot, peach, ripe banana and honeydew melon with tart grapefruit and lime

Both are moderate American aroma hops, but Cascade is grapefruit-and-floral while Amarillo leans orange, apricot and melon with a touch more alpha.

Choose Cascade for the reference craft grapefruit note.

Choose Amarillo for a rounder orange-and-stone-fruit aroma in a pale ale.