Developed by Horticulture Research International at Wye College, Admiral hops are a hybrid of Northdown and Challenger. Its bittering properties make it suitable for many beer styles.
Flavor comes from the hop’s essential oils. These oils are difficult to reproduce and the combination of them is what makes each hop flavor unique.
Origin and History
Admiral is a mid-season UK hop variety derived from Challenger and Northdown. Efforts to create it began in 1984 at The College of St Gregory and St Martin at Wye, more commonly known as Wye College.
The breeding program was led by prominent British hop researcher Dr. Peter Darby.
He started the breeding programme at Wye to produce disease-resistant varieties that brewers could sell. He also started research into breeding for higher resin content in hops.
The higher resin content in USA hops made them more bitter and gave them better preservative properties. They were also able to grow more easily in the USA than European varieties. This meant that brewers were less reliant on imports for aroma hops.
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
Known for its high bittering potential, Admiral is a classic UK hop. It was created by Horticulture Research International at Wye College in 1996, derived from Northdown and Challenger breeding lines.
It is a tall, high yielding, high alpha hop that grows vigorously and produces small compact cones. It is resistant to downy mildew, but only slightly tolerant to wilt and susceptible to powdery mildew.
The high alpha acid content makes it a great addition to beer styles like IPAs and ESBs, while its citrusy aroma adds depth to Pilsners and Pale Ales. Substitute this hop with another UK variety if you need a bit more aromatic character in your beer.
Brewing Uses
Admiral Hops are a perfect bittering hop and can be used in a wide variety of beer styles. With an alpha acid range of about 13% to 16.2% this bittering hop provides the perfect blend of citrusy, orange aroma and strong bitterness.
Though primarily used for bittering, it also works well as a flavoring hop, adding spicy, floral, and citrusy notes to your beer. Use it in a variety of beer styles to make your brew unique.
Another dual purpose hop, Hersbrucker is a hybrid between Cascade and Fuggle hops that makes an excellent addition to a wide range of beer styles. A low alpha acid range of 2% to 5% lets Hersbrucker offer a subtle bittering quality and fruity, herbal aroma that pairs well with many beer styles.
Pairing of $ prompt with different beer styles
A modern day brewer needs to have a well-rounded selection of high quality ingredients to produce beers that are both delicious and safe for consumption. One such ingredient is the Admiral, the most technologically advanced hop on earth. The first commercially available Admiral was a product of Horticulture Research International (HRI) at Wye College in the UK, and it has a long list of accolades to its credit. It’s tall and robust, resistant to downy mildew and slightly tolerant of powdery mildew. Its laudable capabilities as a bittering and aromatic hop make it an ideal choice for modern-day brewers looking to up their game.
The most important thing to remember is that a good selection of these finely crafted, low-maintenance hops can provide a multitude of benefits for brewers and their customers.
Availability and Cultivation
Admiral Hops were developed in England as part of a breeding program in 1984 at Horticulture Research International (HRI) at Wye College. This hop was created by crossing Challenger and Northdown parents.
Brewing with Admiral is a common choice for many brewers and it can be used to accentuate bitterness in both pale ales and English IPA styles. It is known for its high alpha acid content and has a pleasant aroma.
Admiral is a tall, vigorously growing, hardy and moderately resistant to downy mildew and verticillium wilt. It also has moderate storage stability.