Columbus a.k.a. CTZ
The high-alpha workhorse known as CTZ.
What it tastes like
Columbus, Tomahawk, and Zeus — all functionally the same hop, sold under three names — are the highest-grown high-alpha hops in the US. You'll see 'CTZ' in beer descriptions all the time. Pungent, dank, citrus-forward, with a sharp bittering bite. Used heavily in the bittering charge of West Coast IPAs.
Best in these styles
Tasting Tip
Pliny the Elder is a heavy CTZ user. The dank, almost-marijuana-y note in many West Coast DIPAs is Columbus.Beers showcasing Columbus
- Pliny the ElderRussian River
- various IPAsCellarmaker
Substitutes & relatives
If you can't source Columbus, these hops bring overlapping character.
For brewers — technical profile
Alpha Acid
14–17%
Beta Acid
4–5%
Total Oil
2.0–3.0 mL/100g
Oil composition
myrcene
40-50%
humulene
15-25%
caryophyllene
8-12%
farnesene
<1%
History
Bred by the USDA breeding program, released 1990 as Columbus. Tomahawk and Zeus are commercially identical varieties grown by different farms; the industry term 'CTZ' covers all three.
Freshness Note
Stable. CTZ-bittered beers age more gracefully than Citra-aroma ones.