Target Hops – UK – 9–12% AA

A bold British hop delivering firm bitterness with spice and citrus character

Target is a classic high-alpha British hop known for its strong bittering potential and distinctive flavour profile. With notes of spice, sage, and subtle citrus, it offers a more assertive character than traditional English varieties.

A reliable choice for both bittering and flavour, Target is widely used in a range of beer styles from classic ales to modern brews.

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Key Features

• 🇬🇧 Origin: United Kingdom

• 🌿 Flavour: Spice, sage, citrus, herbal

• 🍺 Best For: Bitters, Pale Ales, Porters, Stouts

• 🔬 Alpha Acid: 9–12%

• 🧪 Hop Type: Dual Purpose (High Alpha)

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About Target Hops

Target hops were developed at Wye College in the UK and released in the 1970s as part of a breeding programme focused on producing higher alpha varieties with improved brewing performance.

It quickly became popular due to its strong bittering capability and distinctive flavour. Compared to more delicate English hops, Target offers a more robust profile, combining firm bitterness with spicy and herbal notes alongside a subtle citrus edge.

Its versatility allows it to be used throughout the brewing process, providing clean bitterness early in the boil and added complexity when used in later additions.

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Heritage & Lineage

Target is derived from Northern Brewer, linking it to a family of hops known for balanced bitterness and subtle complexity.

This lineage contributes to its structure and versatility in brewing.

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Flavour & Aroma Profile

Expect bold, structured notes of:

• Spicy character

• Sage and herbal tones

• Light citrus

• Subtle earthiness

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Brewing Applications

Target is ideal for brewers looking to add firm bitterness and classic British character.

Perfect for:

• English Bitters

• Pale Ales

• Porters

• Stouts

Works particularly well for:

• Early additions for strong, clean bitterness

• Supporting traditional recipes

• Adding depth to darker styles

Popular in:

• Classic British ales and bitters

• Traditional porters and stouts

• Craft beers requiring firm bitterness

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Substitutes

If you’re looking for similar hop varieties, consider:

• Challenger

• Northdown

• Northern Brewer

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Specifications

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Freshness, Packaging & Traceability

At The Malt Miller, we take hop quality seriously. All hops are stored in our temperature-controlled cold store to maintain their freshness, aroma, and brewing performance.

Each pack is nitrogen flushed and sealed in a high-quality, resealable mylar bag. This protects the hops from light, oxygen, and moisture — preserving their essential oils and alpha acids until you’re ready to brew.

Every pack is labelled with a batch code, allowing full traceability back to the supplier. This means you can access detailed information such as alpha acid content and harvest year, giving you complete confidence and consistency in your brewing.

We contract and source our hops from the finest merchants and farms around the world, ensuring you get the chance to brew with the same high quality product that professional breweries use.

Using mylar bags which prevent light degradation of the hops, flushing the bags with nitrogen to remove oxygen and cold storage of them until ordered by you, ensures the hops are as fresh as possible.

If you want to learn more about hops and how to use them then check out our Help Centre where you will find blog posts and our Brew With Us ESSENTIALS and we also have some great content on our YouTube channel about hops too.