Hop comparison
Contessa vs Willamette
Contessa is a dual-purpose hop from USA; Willamette is an aroma hop from USA. Alpha acids: 3–5% for Contessa versus 4.8–7.5% for Willamette, so Willamette brings noticeably more bitterness per gram. Total oil: 0.8–1.9 versus 1–1.4 mL/100 g. Shared aroma notes: floral. Contessa adds green tea, light pear; Willamette, slightly spicy, hoppy, earthy. Sources list Willamette as a substitute for Contessa. Sources list Contessa as a substitute for Willamette.
| Contessa | Willamette | |
|---|---|---|
| Use | Dual-purpose hop | Aroma hop |
| Origin | USA | USA, Argentina |
| Year | – | 1976 |
| Breeder | – | USDA |
| Alpha acids (% w/w) | 3–5 | 4.8–7.5 |
| Beta acids (% w/w) | 5–7.4 | 3.3–4.8 |
| Co-humulone (% of alpha) | 29–32 | 30–35 |
| Total oil (mL/100 g) | 0.8–1.9 | 1–1.4 |
| Myrcene (% of oil) | – | 40 |
| Humulene (% of oil) | – | 18.7–22 |
| Caryophyllene (% of oil) | – | 7–8 |
| Farnesene (% of oil) | 4–5.5 | 4.5–6 |
| Linalool (% of oil) | 0.9–1 | 0.8–0.9 |
| Aroma families | other fruit, floral, herbal | citrus, tropical fruit, floral, herbal, spicy, earthy and woody |
| Descriptors | green tea, floral, light pear | slightly spicy, hoppy, earthy, ginger, citrusy, flowers, herbs, mild spice |
| Sources | 1 | 5 |
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