Cashmere Hops – T90 Pellets
Cashmere is a versatile American dual-purpose hop known for its smooth bitterness and delicate blend of lemon, lime, melon, peach and tropical-fruit characteristics. Secondary impressions can include tangerine, coconut, lemongrass, herbs and soft woody notes.
Developed by Washington State University from Cascade and a Northern Brewer-derived male, Cashmere offers a softer and more rounded character than many intensely resinous American varieties. It works particularly well in late-boil, whirlpool and dry-hop additions where its gentle citrus, melon and stone-fruit aromas can be retained.
Cashmere is an excellent choice for Pale Ales, hazy beers, hop-forward lagers, wheat beers and modern sour styles.
Specifications
- Hop variety: Cashmere 8802-02
- Format: T90 hop pellets
- Origin: United States
- Purpose: Dual-purpose
- Alpha acids: Approximately 7–10%
- Beta acids: Approximately 3.5–7.1%
- Total oils: Approximately 1.2–1.4 mL per 100g
- Cohumulone: Approximately 22–24% of alpha acids
- Parentage: Cascade and a Northern Brewer-derived male
- Primary characteristics: Citrus, melon, stone fruit, tropical fruit and herbal
- Common flavour impressions: Lemon, lime, peach, melon, tangerine and coconut
Recommended Beer Styles and Usage Rates
| Beer style | Aroma or whirlpool addition | Dry-hop addition |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Hop-forward Lager | 0.5–2 g/L | 1–3 g/L |
| West Coast Pilsner | 1–2.5 g/L | 1.5–4 g/L |
| Session Pale Ale | 1–3 g/L | 2–4 g/L |
| American Pale Ale | 1.5–4 g/L | 3–6 g/L |
| Hazy Pale Ale | 2–5 g/L | 4–8 g/L |
| American IPA | 2.5–5 g/L | 4–8 g/L |
| Hazy IPA or NEIPA | 3–6 g/L | 5–10 g/L |
| Saison | 0.5–2 g/L | 1–3 g/L |
| Fruited Sour Beer | 1–3 g/L | 1.5–4 g/L |
The quantities above indicate the total hop amount used at each stage. Cashmere can make up the entire addition in a single-hop beer or approximately 25–60% of a hop blend. Adjust the rates to suit your recipe, brewing system and desired aroma intensity.
How to Use Cashmere Hops
Bittering
Cashmere’s moderate alpha-acid content makes it suitable for bittering additions. It can provide a relatively smooth bitterness that works well in Pale Ales, lagers, wheat beers and other balanced styles.
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 Cashmere during the final 10 minutes of the boil or in the whirlpool to develop lemon, lime, melon, peach and tangerine flavours.
A lower-temperature whirlpool can help preserve its softer citrus, tropical-fruit and stone-fruit aromas.
Dry Hopping
Dry hop after active fermentation has slowed for fresh lemon, melon, peach, tangerine and tropical-fruit aromas.
Moderate rates provide a delicate and balanced fruit character. Larger additions can produce the softer, rounded fruit aroma suited to hazy Pale Ales and IPAs without becoming excessively piney or resinous.
Hop Pairings
Cashmere works well by itself and combines particularly well with:
- Citra for mango, lime and grapefruit
- Mosaic for berry, citrus and tropical fruit
- Amarillo for orange and floral character
- El Dorado for pear, watermelon and stone fruit
- Idaho 7 for pineapple, apricot and tropical fruit
- Sabro for coconut, lime and tropical fruit
- Motueka for lime, lemon and tropical character
- Nelson Sauvin for white wine, gooseberry and tropical fruit
- Cascade for grapefruit, citrus and floral notes
- Strata for passionfruit, strawberry and dank character
Possible Cashmere Hop Substitutes
No hop provides an exact replacement for Cashmere’s combination of delicate citrus, melon, peach and coconut. Depending on the recipe, suitable alternatives may include Cascade, Citra, El Dorado, Motueka or Amarillo.
A blend of Cascade and El Dorado can provide a similar combination of citrus and soft stone fruit. Always account for differences in alpha acids when substituting hops in a bittering addition.
Storage
Store Cashmere 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 Cashmere hops taste like?
Cashmere hops are known for lemon, lime, melon, peach, tangerine and tropical-fruit characteristics. Secondary impressions can include coconut, lemongrass, herbs and soft woody notes.
Are Cashmere hops suitable for bittering?
Yes. Cashmere is a dual-purpose hop with sufficient alpha acids for bittering. It is known for providing relatively smooth bitterness, although many brewers reserve it for late-boil, whirlpool and dry-hop additions.
Can Cashmere be used as a single hop?
Yes. Cashmere can provide bitterness, flavour and aroma in a single-hop beer. It is particularly suitable for single-hop Pale Ales, wheat beers, lagers and modern session beers.
What beer styles suit Cashmere hops?
Cashmere is well suited to American Pale Ale, Hazy Pale Ale, IPA, hop-forward lager, wheat beer, Saison and modern sour beer. Its softer character also works well in beers where an intensely piney or resinous hop would be overpowering.
When should Cashmere hops be added?
Use Cashmere early in the boil for bitterness, late in the boil for flavour, in the whirlpool for concentrated citrus and melon character or as a dry hop for its strongest peach, melon and tropical-fruit aroma.
Is Cashmere suitable for hazy IPA?
Yes. Cashmere contributes soft peach, melon, citrus and tropical-fruit characteristics that work well in hazy IPA. It pairs particularly well with Citra, Mosaic, El Dorado and Idaho 7.
What is the difference between Cashmere and Cascade?
Both varieties can provide citrus character, but Cascade generally leans towards grapefruit and floral notes. Cashmere is usually softer and more rounded, with lemon, lime, melon, peach and occasional coconut characteristics.
