Substitute for Cluster: hops like Cluster
Cluster (United States)If you cannot get Cluster, this is the closest hop and what changes in the beer.
Close, with a caveat. Northern Brewer or a clean bittering hop is the nearest substitute for Cluster, but the aroma shifts.
Substitution
Cluster (United States)
Northern Brewera clean bittering hop
Original hop vs substitute
| Out of | Cluster (United States) |
|---|---|
| Closest substitute | Northern Brewer or a clean bittering hop |
| Original alpha acid | 6 to 9 % |
| Original myrcene | 38 to 55 % |
| Original aroma | Blackberry and spice with a gentle floral touch, and woody, herbal notes in the beer |
Notes
If Cluster is out, another traditional American dual-purpose hop covers the bittering; the light blackberry aroma is harder to match.
For a clean bittering charge any high-alpha hop works; to keep Cluster's spicy-blackberry note, a traditional variety is closer than a modern citrus hop.
What to buy instead
Sources: Charles Faram Hop Oracle: Cluster specification ยท BarthHaas Columbus hop variety profile