Developed from the wild Canterbury Whitebine variety in the late 1700’s, East Kent Goldings hops are quintessentially British. They have been cultivated in East Kent exclusively by a small number of growers since 1838.
This hop is a smooth and delicate aroma hop with floral, lavender, spice, honey, earth, lemon and thyme overtones. It is one of the most popular English hop varieties and works well as a dry hop in English Pale Ales.
Origin and History
The southeastern county of Kent is a patchwork of smallholdings separated by rivers and country lanes, woodlands and orchards, farms and cricket fields. Here, in a region known as the garden of England, hops are grown and cultivated.
The first hops arrived in the region during the Hundred Years War (1336-1453) when Flemish farmers fled their homeland for a safer place to live. They brought with them Red Bine and White Bine varieties.
Eventually, growers selected more complex cultivars that were more robust and suited to the local environment. A series of clonal variants, known as Goldings, were developed from these original hops and planted across East Kent.
In the early 1800s, Goldings became one of Britain’s most important hops. Like English Fuggle, the variety came about as an accidental discovery in someone’s garden. Often used in combination with Fuggle, Goldings have a unique and complex aroma that has been praised for its versatility. The variety also provides a milder, cleaner bitterness in addition to its earthy-citrus flavor, perfect for late boil additions.
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
The East Kent Goldings Hops (EKG) are a family of hops grown in the county of Kent, England. These hops are considered the best English aroma hops and are used for a variety of beer styles, including English Ale and ESB.
The soil and climate of the region of East Kent are known to favor this hop variety. In fact, in 2013, this hop was given a protected designation of origin.
These hops have a high alpha acid content and are tolerant to downy mildew and hop mosaic virus. They are also fairly storable, making them a good choice for mid- to late-season brewing.
East Kent Goldings Hops have a pleasant spicy aroma and refined flavor. They make a nice addition to English-style ales as well as some lagers.
Brewing
East Kent Goldings Hops are one of the most celebrated and sort after English hop varieties. Long considered to be quintessential for English ales and pale ales they have been awarded a Protected Designation of Origin.
They are widely used for aroma and dry hopping in many styles of beer. This hop has a delicate floral scent with overtones of apricot and spice.
These hops have a moderate alpha acid range and are suitable for a wide variety of brewing styles including IPAs, APAs, and English Ales. These hops are a general substitute for East Kent Goldings but should not be treated as exact clones in any way.
This hop was first introduced in the 1790s in Kent, England and has been a staple of English brewing since. It is considered to be the quintessential English hop along with Fuggles, and has been a defining flavor in hoppy ales for centuries.
Pairing
A classic British aroma hop, East Kent Goldings are a delicately smooth variety with a floral lavender and earthy honey sweetness. These hops have a great deal of character and can be used in many beer styles.
In particular, East Kent Goldings pair well with UK Fuggles and provide a floral and citrus overtone. They work well in English bitters, pale ales, ESBs, blonds and tripels and brewers often use them in dry hopping to add subtle yet complex character.
There are several varieties of East Kent Goldings and some clones have specific regional variations. These include Cobbs, Early Bird, Bramling, Canterbury, Petham, Rothersham and Mathon.
Terroir plays a big part in making a Golding from East Kent different than one grown in another region. Genetically, all these clones are the same but the differences come from the unique climate and soil conditions of East Kent.