Centennial a.k.a. CFJ-90
Cascade's bigger, brighter cousin.
What it tastes like
Centennial is what brewers reach for when they want everything Cascade does but louder. Bigger floral, bigger grapefruit, bigger citrus. It's the C in 'C-hops' and a key ingredient in most Pacific Northwest IPAs of the 2000s.
Best in these styles
Tasting Tip
Bell's Two Hearted Ale is essentially a Centennial showcase — it's the cleanest single-hop expression of what Centennial brings to the glass.Beers showcasing Centennial
- Two Hearted AleBell's
- Centennial IPAFounders
- Pliny the Elder (in the blend)Russian River
Substitutes & relatives
If you can't source Centennial, these hops bring overlapping character.
For brewers — technical profile
Alpha Acid
9.5–11.5%
Beta Acid
3.5–4.5%
Total Oil
1.5–2.5 mL/100g
Oil composition
myrcene
55-65%
humulene
10-18%
caryophyllene
5-8%
farnesene
<1%
History
Released by the USDA in 1990. Centennial was the first 'super-Cascade' — same flavor lineage but with much higher alpha acid, making it efficient for both bittering and aroma in a single beer.
Freshness Note
Solid keeping qualities. A Two Hearted drunk within 90 days of packaging is the right move.