Simcoe
A distinctive American hop of pine, passionfruit and a signature resinous character.
About Simcoe
Simcoe was released in 2000 and became a defining hop of the West Coast IPA for its bold pine and passionfruit character and clean, high bittering.
It is the parent of Mosaic and a workhorse in strong, hoppy American beers, used both to bitter and to add its unmistakable resinous aroma.
Aroma and flavour
Pine and resin with passionfruit and citrus, and a distinctive quality some describe as catty; unmistakable in a West Coast IPA.
By the numbers, Simcoe typically carries 12 to 14% alpha acid, which drives its bitterness, and 2 to 2.5 total oil, which drives its aroma. It is generally treated as a dual-purpose 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
Simcoe is versatile across the boil, giving clean bittering and a piney, resinous aroma late. It is a backbone hop of double IPAs, often alongside Centennial and Amarillo.
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 Simcoe is unavailable, Mosaic 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 | 12 to 14% |
| Beta acid | 4 to 5% |
| Total oil | 2 to 2.5 |
| Typical use | Dual-purpose |
| Origin | United States, released 2000 |
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 Simcoe hops on eBayaffiliateRelated
Sources: BarthHaas hop varieties ยท Hopslist variety data