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East Kent Golding
The classic English aroma hop, gentle, floral and honeyed, for traditional ales.
About East Kent Golding
East Kent Golding is a heritage English aroma hop, grown in Kent and holding a protected designation of origin. It has been a cornerstone of English brewing for over two centuries.
Its delicate, floral, honeyed character defines traditional bitters, English IPAs and many British ales.
Aroma and flavour
Gentle, floral, honeyed and lightly spicy; the classic English pale-ale aroma.
By the numbers, East Kent Golding typically carries 4 to 6.5% alpha acid, which drives its bitterness, and 0.4 to 0.8 total oil, which drives its aroma. It is generally treated as a aroma hop. Published figures are typical values; the real alpha and oil of any given lot vary with the harvest, so a hop bill is usually adjusted to the actual numbers on the package.
Using it in the brewery
East Kent Golding is used for aroma and flavour, late in the boil and as a traditional cask dry hop, giving English ales their gentle floral character. It pairs classically with Fuggle.
Like all hops, it is best bought as vacuum-packed pellets and kept cold and sealed, since oxygen and warmth degrade the alpha acids and drive off the aroma oils over time. Buy close to when you will brew, and store any opened packets cold and airtight.
Substitutes
If East Kent Golding is unavailable, Fuggle makes the closest substitute, sharing a similar aroma family and a comparable alpha and oil profile. A substitute is a close match rather than an identical clone, so expect it to shift the character a little.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Alpha acid | 4 to 6.5% |
| Beta acid | 2 to 3.5% |
| Total oil | 0.4 to 0.8 |
| Typical use | Aroma |
| Origin | England (Kent), a heritage variety |
Typical published figures; harvest and batch vary.
Match this hop to a yeast
Open the YeastMatch selectorPair a hop with the right yeast, or find a substitute.Find East Kent Golding hops on eBayaffiliateRelated
Sources: BarthHaas hop varieties ยท Hopslist variety data