Centennial
Centennial is the bigger, brighter sibling of Cascade — so similar in character yet so much more intense that it earned the nickname "super Cascade." It is a cornerstone of the classic American IPA and inseparable from one of the most famous IPAs ever brewed.
#Variety Statistics
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Alpha acid | ~8–11.5% |
| Origin | USA (Washington) |
| Year released | 1990 |
| Breeding | Complex parentage including Brewers Gold, Fuggle, East Kent Golding, and others |
| Key oils | Myrcene-dominant; significant humulene |
| Flavor descriptors | Citrus, grapefruit, floral, lemon, light pine |
| Typical styles | American IPA, West Coast IPA, Double IPA, pale ale |
#Character
Centennial offers a clean, assertive citrus — grapefruit and lemon — with a pronounced floral lift and gentle pine. It is more intense and slightly higher in alpha acid than Cascade, making it both a capable bittering hop and a vivid aroma hop. The profile is bright and "classically American" without the tropical sweetness of newer varieties.
Russian River's Pliny the Elder, the beer that crystallized the Double IPA as a style, leans heavily on Centennial alongside Simcoe and Amarillo. For a generation of brewers, that trio was the West Coast IPA aroma.
#Use in IPA
A true dual-purpose hop, Centennial bitters cleanly and finishes brilliantly in late and dry-hop additions. It is a frequent partner to Cascade and Simcoe, adding focus and citrus punch to a hop bill.
Widely grown and reasonably available, Centennial remains a dependable, lower-cost choice relative to proprietary hops — see Hop Contracts and the Hop Supply Chain.
#Continue Reading
- Cascade — the variety Centennial intensifies
- Simcoe — frequent co-star in West Coast recipes
- Origins of the Double IPA — where Centennial made history
- Hop Variety Index — Centennial in context