Honey, fresh herbs and a soft, earthy spice instead of a fruit salad. East Kent Golding is the classic English finishing hop for traditional ales, cask ales and porters.
Alpha 4.0–5.5 % · Beta 2.0–3.5 % · Late hop & dry hop · T90 pellets · Crop 2025 · 100 g
What it does in your beer
Expect a gentle, rounded hop aroma: honey, fresh herbs and light spice, with earthy and woody notes and, in some descriptions, a tangy citrus edge. Variety data describes its expression as rather subtle. It won't shout; it will make the pint taste unmistakably English.
With 4.0–5.5 % alpha it can bitter, but its real job is late in the boil and in the fermenter, where that delicate aroma survives. Traditional English ales, cask ales and porters are home ground.
At a glance
| Variety | East Kent Golding (EKG) |
| Origin | United Kingdom (England) |
| Heritage | Developed from Canterbury Whitebine in the late 1700s |
| Crop year | 2025 |
| Form | T90 pellets |
| Pack size | 100 g |
| Alpha acids | 4.0–5.5 % |
| Beta acids | 2.0–3.5 % |
| Co-humulone | 26–32 % (variety typical, grower data) |
| Total oil | 0.4–0.8 ml/100 g (variety typical, grower data) |
| Myrcene | 20–26 % of total oil |
| Purpose | Aroma — late hop and dry hop |
| Aroma | Honey, fresh herbs, gentle spice, earthy, woody |
What 10 g does in 20 L
| Added at | IBU from 10 g in 20 L (approx.) |
| 60 min | ≈ 5 |
| 30 min | ≈ 4 |
| 15 min | ≈ 3 |
| 5 min | ≈ 1 |
Approx., Tinseth formula, OG 1.050, mid alpha 4.8 %. Recalculate with the alpha on your pack.
How to use
- Late boil: the recommended slot is the final (third) addition or the whirlpool.
- Dry hop: it is used for dry hopping as well as classic kettle hopping.
- Bittering: possible, but at 4.0–5.5 % alpha 10 g gives only about 5 IBU over 60 minutes in 20 L (table above). Budget the bag accordingly.
- Expect subtlety: variety data describes its flavour expression as rather subtle, so it won't behave like a fruit-forward modern hop.
Pairs well with
Brewing a traditional English ale or a cask-style bitter? Try it with Crisp Maris Otter as the base, a touch of Crisp Crystal T150 and SafAle S-04.
Brewing a porter? Add a little chocolate malt to the same grist and let EKG handle the finish.
Storage & shelf life
- Keep the pack sealed, cold, dry and dark — warmth, oxygen and light all fade hop aroma.
- T90 pellet data sheets specify −3 to 5 °C in a dry, odour-free place.
- Opened it? Squeeze out the air, reseal tightly and brew with it soon.
Food information
- Name: Hop pellets, East Kent Golding
- Ingredients: hop pellets (Humulus lupulus)
- Allergens: none of the 14 allergens listed in EU Regulation 1169/2011, Annex II
- Net quantity: 100 g
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Storage: sealed, cold, dry and dark
Good to know
- Crop 2025: 4.0–5.5 % alpha and 2.0–3.5 % beta are the figures for this crop.
- Supplied as T90 pellets in a 100 g pack, ready for the kettle or the fermenter.
- Hops are dispatched from our partner warehouse in the Czech Republic, separately from any equipment in the same order — expect two parcels.
FAQ
Is East Kent Golding a bittering or an aroma hop?
Aroma first. It is recommended for the late boil and the dry hop. It can bitter, but with 4.0–5.5 % alpha you need a lot of hops for a small number of IBU.
What does East Kent Golding taste like?
Honey, fresh herbs and gentle spice, with earthy and woody notes. It is subtle rather than fruity.
Which beers is it for?
Traditional English ales, cask ales and porters.
How many IBU does 10 g give?
About 5 IBU in 20 L when boiled for 60 minutes (approx., Tinseth, OG 1.050, mid alpha 4.8 %).