Whole Leaf Hops (Hop Cones)

Whole Leaf Hops and Hop Cones for Homebrewing

Whole leaf hops, also called hop cones, are hops dried and packaged in their leaf form rather than pelletized. Some brewers prefer leaf hops for traditional recipes, hopbacks, gentle aroma additions, or processes where the physical cone structure is useful.

Leaf hops behave differently from T-90 pellets. They take up more space, can absorb more wort or beer, and may need a bag, spider, screen, or hopback plan depending on the system. Choose the variety by flavor, aroma, alpha acid range, freshness, and the role it will play in the recipe.

When to choose whole leaf hops

• Hopback or filter-bed use: cone structure can help in workflows designed around leaf hops.
• Traditional recipes: some brewers like leaf hops for classic English, Belgian, or farmhouse-inspired beers.
• Aroma additions: leaf hops can be used late in the boil, whirlpool, or dry hop when the system handles them well.
• Process planning: account for absorption, containment, and cleanup before adding them to the batch.

For other hop formats and varieties, browse all hops, Cryo hops, and brewing ingredients.