Simcoe
Simcoe is the hop of pine, dank, and grapefruit — a defining aroma of the West Coast IPA and the genetic parent of the ubiquitous Mosaic. Released in 2000, it bridged the early citrus C-hops and the bold modern era.
#Variety Statistics
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Alpha acid | ~12–14% |
| Origin | USA (Yakima, Washington) |
| Year released | 2000 |
| Breeding | Hop Breeding Company; designated YCR 14 |
| Key oils | Myrcene-dominant; low cohumulone for smooth bitterness |
| Flavor descriptors | Pine, passionfruit, grapefruit, dank, "catty," apricot |
| Typical styles | West Coast IPA, Double IPA, American IPA, Black IPA |
#Character
Simcoe is resinous and piney with a sharp grapefruit edge and an unmistakable dank, slightly "catty" or musky undertone that brewers either love or carefully manage. Underneath sits a stone-fruit sweetness — apricot and passionfruit — that emerges in lighter doses. Its low cohumulone gives an unusually smooth bitterness for a high-alpha hop, making it excellent for both kettle and aroma roles.
Simcoe is core to Russian River Pliny the Elder and Weyerbacher and countless other classics. Alongside Centennial and Amarillo it forms the archetypal West Coast IPA hop triad.
#Use in IPA
A versatile dual-purpose hop, Simcoe bitters cleanly thanks to its low cohumulone and contributes vivid pine-and-dank aroma in the whirlpool and dry hop. It also performs well in darker hop-forward beers, where its resin stands up to roast.
Some lots and heavy dry-hop charges push Simcoe toward an aggressive catty/onion note. Lot selection — rubbing samples, checking crop-year specs — keeps it on the right side of dank.
Simcoe is a proprietary, contracted variety with persistently tight supply; see Hop Contracts and the Hop Supply Chain.
#Continue Reading
- Mosaic — Simcoe's celebrated offspring
- Centennial — frequent West Coast co-star
- Hop Variety Index — Simcoe in context
- West Coast IPA — the style Simcoe helped define