Chinook vs Columbus (CTZ): 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	Chinook: United States · Columbus (CTZ): United States
Chinook alpha acid	10.7 to 15 %
Columbus (CTZ) alpha acid	13.9 to 17.5 %
Chinook total oil	up to 2.5 mL/100 g
Columbus (CTZ) total oil	up to 4.5 mL/100 g
Chinook myrcene	12 to 30 %
Columbus (CTZ) myrcene	8.8 to 57.7 %
Chinook aroma	Herbal and almost smoky, with tarragon, juniper and lavender balanced by grapefruit and stone fruit
Columbus (CTZ) aroma	Pungent and vegetal with sweet fruit, floral, citrus and herbal notes; dank when dry-hopped

Both are high-alpha resinous American hops, but Chinook is more piney and herbal while Columbus is more purely dank and vegetal and higher in alpha.

Choose Chinook for pine, grapefruit and a herbal-smoky aroma as well as bitterness.

Choose Columbus for maximum clean bitterness from a small charge, plus a dank late-hop note.