Willamette
A mild American aroma hop of floral, spicy and lightly fruity character, an American Fuggle.
About Willamette
Willamette is an American aroma hop released in 1976, a triploid derived from Fuggle, and shares its mild, earthy, floral character.
It is widely grown and used in American and English-style ales where a gentle, traditional aroma is wanted rather than bold citrus.
Aroma and flavour
Mild, floral, spicy and lightly fruity; a softer American take on the English Fuggle.
By the numbers, Willamette typically carries 4 to 6% alpha acid, which drives its bitterness, and 1 to 1.5 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
Willamette is used for a mild aroma late in the boil in ales and porters, giving a soft, floral, spicy character. It suits styles where the malt leads and the hop plays a supporting role.
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 Willamette 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% |
| Beta acid | 3 to 4.5% |
| Total oil | 1 to 1.5 |
| Typical use | Aroma |
| Origin | United States, released 1976 |
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 Willamette hops on eBayaffiliateRelated
Sources: BarthHaas hop varieties ยท Hopslist variety data