Difference between Us/UK Chinook hops

[The Baron]

Anybody actually used Uk and Us Chinook hops and could tell me the real world difference apart from AA's.
I have seen them with a price difference too the UK ones being cheaper

 

[An Ankoù]

I've not used them, Baron, but I've used French goldings and fuggles and can confirm that terroir makes a discernible difference. I always make sure my Magnum are Hallertau Magnum for the same reason. There's also NZ cascade, a lovely hop, but I don't think it's just a transplant of US cascade.
Regrettably, I'm not fond of Chinook so not likely to explore this one.

 

[The Baron]

It's because I made a Chinnok/Comet/Summit Ipa and it is one I would like to replicate but would expect the US variety to be more fruity than the UK version. The UK is also cheaper and being Yorkshire I rest my case
No but I want to replicate and if there is a great difference I will use the US variety

 

[MrRook]

It also depends on where in the U S that they're grown. I've read discriptions of chinooks grown in Michigan opposed to Washington/Oregon that included pineapple.

 

[An Ankoù]

It also depends on where in the U S that they're grown. I've read discriptions of chinooks grown in Michigan opposed to Washington/Oregon that included pineapple.

That makes sense. Just as EKGs are prized over, for example, Worcester Goldings.

 

[The Baron]

You wouldn't believe the soil would make that much difference but I have heard that of other hops

 

[clib]

I have used both US and UK Chinook. The difference is massive. US Chinook is a very distinctive hop, very powerful and people love it or hate it. UK Chinook does not have that character, it's akin to other English hops. In my experience.

 

[The Baron]

Thats what I was worried about that it would be like a English hop

 

[Irishwizard]

A quick 2 minute google on the CML website say the UK version is 8AA and US version 12AA - so a fairly big difference.

 

[Irishwizard]

Thats what I was worried about that it would be like a English hop

There was a forum member on here many moons ago who got me into whole grain, and he did a chinook SMASH. I scaled it up for 10L and blooming nice it was too. So this slightly maligned hop, can, IMO, with care, make a great beer.

 

[Northern_Brewer]

You wouldn't believe the soil would make that much difference but I have heard that of other hops

Although soil comes into it, the big difference is sun - it's the UK's cloudy maritime climate that makes UK hops taste the way they do, you need bright sun to really develop the fruit flavours (as shown in heatwave vintages like 2018).

 

[Irishwizard]

Although soil comes into it, the big difference is sun - it's the UK's cloudy maritime climate that makes UK hops taste the way they do, you need bright sun to really develop the fruit flavours (as shown in heatwave vintages like 2018).

I "think" this is true, because I have no evidence either way

 

[clib]

Although soil comes into it, the big difference is sun - it's the UK's cloudy maritime climate that makes UK hops taste the way they do, you need bright sun to really develop the fruit flavours (as shown in heatwave vintages like 2018).

I can't imagine English Chinooks turned into US Chinooks though?

 

[RoomWithABrew]

I've used the Taiheke ( NZ cascade ) not the same as US cascade.

Formerly known as NZ Cascade but renamed Taiheke as it is now marked different from the original cultivar.

Taiheke is a dual purpose hop with brilliant citrus grapefruit and lime characters.

It works well in single hop beers and blends beautifully with other NZ heavyweights such as Motueka and Riwaka.



It is typically used in New World style pale ales and IPA's.


Technical Data
HPLC & Oil Composition (Measured within 6 months of harvest, stored at 0C)

Alpha Acids	6-8%
Beta Acids	5.0-5.5%
Cohumulone	37% of Alpha Acids
Total Oil	1.1 ml oil per 100gm cone weight
Concentration	180 uL Oil/gram Alpha
Myrcene	53.6%
Humulene	14.5%
Caryophyllene	5.4%
Farnesene	6%
Citrus-Piney Fraction	6.1%
Floral Estery Fraction	2.2%
H/C Ratio	2.8
Other	0%

Grower Comments

Maturity	Early Season
Yield	Medium
Growth Habit	Vigorous, columnar frame
Cone Structure	Cylindrical, tight cones
Disease Resistance	New Zealand is hop disease free
Storage Stability	Excellent (New Zealand Grown)
Picking	Picks very well

 

[531Man]

Hi @the baron ,
Here's what Charles Faram Hops say, interesting to know their suggestions for 'Substitutions' UK vs. USA varieties.
I've not used Chinook yet, but have used UK Ernest - and they are a pretty full on flavour, they're on the Charles Faram website too:

Chinook UK

Use in brewing
Dual purpose hop.
A high alpha acid hop with a very unusual aroma profile. Chinook has a very strong grapefruit character in both the rub of the hop and in the beer. Ideal for one-off and seasonal specials
Substitutions
Ernest & Admiral
Origin/History
Developed from a cross between a Petham Golding and a US selected male with high alpha acids. Released in 1985 and becoming increasingly more popular.
Agronomics
Maturing mid to late season. The cones are long, medium compact with outward turning petals. Tolerant to infection with Prunus necrotic ring-spot virus, moderately tolerant to Downy Mildew. Not excessively sensitive to insects.
Storage:
Good

Additional information

Country	UK
Characteristics	Citrus, Grapefruit, Pine
Alpha Acid	9-11%
Beta Acid	2-3%
Cohumulone	29-35
Oil Composition	Myrcene: 20-30%, Humulene: 18-25%, Farnesene: <1%
Total Oil	1.25-1.75ml/100g
Flavour Intensity	9

Download Variety PDF


Back to Hop Variety Knowledge

Chinook USA

Use in brewing
Dual purpose hop.
A high alpha acid hop with a very unusual aroma profile. Chinook has a very strong grapefruit character in both the rub of the hop and in the beer. Ideal for one-off and seasonal specials
Substitutions
Northern Brewer, First Gold, Perle
Origin/History
Developed from a cross between a Petham Golding and a US selected male with high alpha acids. Released in 1985 and becoming increasingly more popular.
Agronomics
Maturing mid to late season. The cones are long, medium compact with outward turning petals. Tolerant to infection with Prunus necrotic ring-spot virus, moderately tolerant to Downy Mildew. Not excessively sensitive to insects.
Organic Status
Also available in Organic
Storage:
Good

Additional information

Country	USA
Characteristics	Grapefruit, Lemon, Pine
Alpha Acid	11-15%
Beta Acid	3-4%
Cohumulone	29-35
Oil Composition	Myrcene: 20-30%, Humulene: 18-25%, Farnesene: <1%
Total Oil	1.5-2.5ml/100g
Flavour Intensity	9

Download Variety PDF


Back to Hop Variety Knowledge

 

[The Baron]

Thats quite interesting 531, the descriptors say really the same and that is what I was worried about because the US version is more likely to give the grapefruit and lemon etc whereas the UK version seems to be like a British hop giving Admiral as a replacement which is nowhere near Grapefruit etc. Thats the reason I asked if somebody had used both as the hop sellers descriptors seem to be plucked out of the air sometimes.
It does seem that they may be poles apart in real terms so will stick with the US version which I have used before in a IPA and as I want to replicate my recipe thats what I will use

 

[MrRook]

American chinook is also quite piney.

 

[The Baron]

yes it gave a distinct flavour and bittering to the said IPA which also had Comet and Summit in it

 

[jceg316]

I grow chinook and have used it in a few beers. It's nice but can confirm it's very "English". I do understand that there's gonna be a difference between my "hobby" plants and commercially grown ones, but the fuggles and BC I grow are actually very similar to shop bought ones. My chinook has pine flavours, but also earthy flavours as well, I've never got citrus flavours or anything too punchy like the American commercial versions.

 

[The Baron]

Thanks jceg thats just about confirmed it I will deffo use US for the IPA now