Simcoe

Pine & Passionfruit • West Coast Backbone • Versatile High-Alpha Workhorse

Simcoe is one of the most respected hops in American craft brewing, prized for a distinctive blend of pine, passionfruit, citrus, and earth that bridges classic West Coast IPAs and modern hazy styles. Released in 2000, it earned cult status as the signature hop behind some of the most celebrated IPAs of the craft era.

With alpha acids of 13%, Simcoe is genuinely dual-purpose: it lays down smooth, efficient bitterness in the boil and contributes deep, complex aroma in the whirlpool and dry hop.

Flavor & Aroma Profile

• Fresh pine and resin
• Ripe passionfruit
• Bright citrus notes
• Earthy, woodsy depth
• Subtle apricot undertones

At lower rates Simcoe adds quiet pine structure beneath fruitier hops. Used heavily, it delivers the assertive pine-and-tropical punch that defines benchmark West Coast IPAs.

Brewing Applications

Simcoe is a staple ingredient in many American hop-forward styles, including:

• West Coast IPA
• American Pale Ale
• Double IPA
• Hazy IPA
• Amber Ale
• Fresh Hop Ale

It is also a classic structural hop in blends, giving backbone to softer tropical varieties like Citra and Mosaic.

Usage Recommendations

For a 5-gallon batch, 0.5–1 oz at 60 minutes provides clean, efficient bitterness, with 1–2 oz across whirlpool and dry hop for full pine-and-fruit aroma. Whirlpool-heavy schedules emphasize passionfruit; dry hopping at higher rates brings out resin and pine.

Simcoe with Mosaic is one of brewing's great pairings — the Simcoe parent-child combination delivers remarkable depth.

Specifications

• Alpha Acid: 13%
• Flavor Notes: Pine, passionfruit, earthy, citrus
• Typical Use: Dual-purpose
• Common Additions: 60 min, whirlpool, dry hop
• Substitutes: Mosaic, Amarillo
• Beer Styles: West Coast IPAs, pale ales, double IPAs, hazy IPAs

Whether you're crafting a benchmark West Coast IPA or anchoring a modern hazy blend, Simcoe delivers the pine-and-passionfruit complexity that has made it a craft brewing legend.