Cascade Hops – T90 Pellets
Cascade is a classic American aroma hop famous for its distinctive grapefruit, floral, citrus and spicy character. Secondary impressions can include pine, herbs and light tropical fruit, creating the recognisable hop profile associated with traditional American craft Pale Ales.
Developed through the USDA breeding program and commercially released in 1972, Cascade helped define the modern American Pale Ale. Its balanced bitterness and expressive aroma make it suitable for late-boil, whirlpool and dry-hop additions, while its moderate alpha-acid content also allows it to be used for bittering.
Cascade is particularly well suited to American Pale Ales, Blonde Ales, IPAs, Amber Ales, wheat beers and classic American-style craft beers.
Specifications
- Hop variety: Cascade 55187
- Format: T90 hop pellets
- Origin: United States
- Purpose: Aroma and dual-purpose
- Alpha acids: Approximately 4–9%
- Beta acids: Approximately 5.5–9%
- Total oils: Approximately 0.5–2.0 mL per 100g
- Cohumulone: Approximately 29–35% of alpha acids
- Parentage: Fuggle seedling crossed through open pollination with a male descended from Russian Serebrianka
- Primary characteristics: Grapefruit, floral, citrus, pine and herbal
- Common flavour impressions: Pink grapefruit, lemon, flowers, spice and light pine
Recommended Beer Styles and Usage Rates
| Beer style | Aroma or whirlpool addition | Dry-hop addition |
|---|---|---|
| American Blonde Ale | 0.5–1.5 g/L | 0.5–2 g/L |
| American Wheat Beer | 0.5–2 g/L | 1–3 g/L |
| Cream Ale | 0.5–1.5 g/L | 0.5–2 g/L |
| American Amber Ale | 1–2.5 g/L | 1.5–4 g/L |
| American Pale Ale | 1.5–4 g/L | 2.5–6 g/L |
| West Coast Pale Ale | 2–4 g/L | 3–6 g/L |
| American IPA | 2–5 g/L | 3–7 g/L |
| West Coast IPA | 2.5–5 g/L | 4–8 g/L |
| American Brown Ale | 1–2.5 g/L | 1.5–4 g/L |
| American Porter | 0.5–2 g/L | 1–3 g/L |
| Saison | 0.5–2 g/L | 1–3 g/L |
The quantities above indicate the total hop amount used at each stage. Cascade can make up the entire addition in a single-hop beer or approximately 25–70% of a hop blend. Adjust the rates to suit your recipe, brewing system and desired aroma intensity.
How to Use Cascade Hops
Bittering
Cascade’s moderate alpha-acid content allows it to be used for bittering, particularly in Pale Ales, Blonde Ales and other balanced American beer styles.
It is less efficient than modern high-alpha bittering varieties, so calculate the required quantity using the exact alpha-acid percentage printed on your packet and the target bitterness of your recipe.
Late Kettle and Whirlpool
Add Cascade during the final 10 minutes of the boil or in the whirlpool for classic grapefruit, citrus, floral and spicy character.
Lower-temperature whirlpool additions can help preserve more of its fresh grapefruit and floral aroma, while hotter additions may emphasise spice, herbs and pine.
Dry Hopping
Dry hop after active fermentation has slowed for bright grapefruit, floral, citrus and light pine aromas.
Moderate rates provide the balanced hop character associated with classic American Pale Ale. Larger additions can create an assertive old-school American citrus aroma without the intense tropical character of newer varieties.
Hop Pairings
Cascade works well by itself and combines particularly well with:
- Centennial for stronger grapefruit, lemon and floral character
- Chinook for pine, spice and resin
- Columbus or CTZ for dank, resinous and citrus notes
- Simcoe for grapefruit, pine and stone fruit
- Amarillo for orange and floral character
- Citra for mango, lime and tropical citrus
- Mosaic for berry, tropical fruit and citrus
- Willamette for earthy, floral and spicy notes
- Cashmere for lemon, melon and soft stone fruit
- Motueka for lime, lemon and tropical character
Possible Cascade Hop Substitutes
No hop provides an exact replacement for Cascade’s classic grapefruit and floral character. Depending on the recipe, suitable alternatives may include Centennial, Amarillo, Cashmere or Ahtanum.
Centennial is generally stronger and higher in alpha acids, while Amarillo tends to provide more orange character. Always account for differences in alpha acids when substituting hops in a bittering addition.
Storage
Store Cascade hop pellets sealed, cold and protected from oxygen and light. After opening, remove as much air as possible, reseal the packet and return it to refrigerated or frozen storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Cascade hops taste like?
Cascade hops are best known for grapefruit, floral, citrus and spicy characteristics. They can also contribute light pine, herbal and tropical-fruit impressions depending on the growing conditions and when they are added.
Are Cascade hops suitable for bittering?
Yes. Cascade can be used for bittering, although its moderate alpha-acid content makes it less efficient than high-alpha varieties. Many brewers use Cascade primarily for late-boil, whirlpool and dry-hop additions.
Can Cascade be used as a single hop?
Yes. Cascade is an excellent choice for single-hop Pale Ales, Blonde Ales and IPAs because it can provide bitterness, flavour and aroma. A single-hop recipe is also a good way to explore its classic grapefruit and floral character.
What beer styles suit Cascade hops?
Cascade is particularly well suited to American Pale Ale, American IPA, Blonde Ale, Amber Ale, American Wheat Beer and American Brown Ale. It can also add citrus and floral character to Porters, Saisons and modern lagers.
When should Cascade hops be added?
Use Cascade early in the boil for bitterness, during the final 10 minutes for flavour, in the whirlpool for concentrated citrus character or as a dry hop for its strongest grapefruit and floral aroma.
What is the difference between Cascade and Centennial?
Both varieties provide grapefruit, citrus and floral characteristics. Cascade is generally softer and lower in alpha acids, while Centennial is stronger, more bitter and often has a more noticeable pine and resin character.
Is Cascade suitable for West Coast IPA?
Yes. Cascade is one of the classic hops used in American West Coast beer styles. It works particularly well when paired with Centennial, Chinook, Columbus or Simcoe for additional bitterness, pine and resin.
Why is Cascade important in American craft beer?
Cascade helped establish the grapefruit, citrus and floral hop profile associated with early American craft Pale Ales. It remains one of the defining hops of classic American-style brewing.
