Fuggle
A classic English hop of earthy, woody and minty character, the partner to Golding.
About Fuggle
Fuggle was introduced in 1875 and became, with Golding, one of the two defining English aroma hops. Its earthy, woody character is more rustic than the floral Golding.
It is a mainstay of English ales, milds, porters and bitters, valued for the traditional depth it brings rather than for punch.
Aroma and flavour
Earthy, woody, grassy and mildly minty; a rustic, traditional English aroma.
By the numbers, Fuggle typically carries 3.5 to 5.5% alpha acid, which drives its bitterness, and 0.7 to 1.4 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
Fuggle is used for aroma and flavour, late in the boil, giving English ales an earthy, woody backbone. It is often combined with East Kent Golding for a classic English hop profile.
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 Fuggle is unavailable, East Kent Golding 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 | 3.5 to 5.5% |
| Beta acid | 2 to 3% |
| Total oil | 0.7 to 1.4 |
| Typical use | Aroma |
| Origin | England, introduced 1875 |
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 Fuggle hops on eBayaffiliateRelated
Sources: BarthHaas hop varieties ยท Hopslist variety data