Citra vs El Dorado: which hop to use
Data sheetThe 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 | Citra: United States · El Dorado: United States |
|---|---|
| Citra alpha acid | 11 to 14.3 % |
| El Dorado alpha acid | 13 to 17 % |
| Citra total oil | up to 2.8 mL/100 g |
| El Dorado total oil | high; myrcene-dominant |
| Citra myrcene | 28.6 to 66 % |
| El Dorado myrcene | 55 to 60 % |
| Citra aroma | Grapefruit, sun-ripened mango and pineapple, with sharper gooseberry, blackberry and red-currant notes and a hint of lilac |
| El Dorado aroma | Tropical and stone fruit with candy-like notes of pineapple, pear and watermelon and a subtle citrus edge |
Notes
Both are tropical American hops, but El Dorado carries a distinctive watermelon-and-candy sweetness and higher alpha where Citra is grapefruit-forward.
Choose Citra for the reference bright grapefruit-and-tropical aroma.
Choose El Dorado for a sweeter, candy-like fruit character and a hop that also bitters cleanly.
The hops in full
Sources: BarthHaas Citra hop variety profile · Charles Faram Hop Oracle: El Dorado specification