Aramis was released in 1996 by France's INRA breeding program in Alsace, derived from Strisselspalt breeding stock and developed to give French growers a higher-yielding, more disease-resistant alternative while preserving as much of that traditional Alsatian noble character as the breeding program could manage. It's one of relatively few French hops with wide international name recognition outside dedicated hop circles.
At 7-9.5% alpha acid, Aramis runs meaningfully higher than true Strisselspalt, giving it genuine dual-purpose capability rather than the purely aroma-focused role its parent typically fills. Its spicy, herbal aroma with a mild fruit undertone keeps it recognizably within the French-Alsatian noble tradition, distinct from the more purely floral-herbal character Strisselspalt itself carries. That practicality was the entire point of the breeding program: a French grower needing a hop that could carry real bittering weight without importing an unrelated foreign variety for that role. Aramis carries a total oil content of roughly 1.2-1.6 mL per 100g, toward the richer end for a French hop, part of why growers describe it as having more presence in a whirlpool or dry-hop addition than its lower-oil parent. Strisselspalt is the direct genetic comparison and closest aromatic substitute, while Saaz offers a related Central European noble-hop alternative if Aramis specifically isn't available. French and Belgian-style ales, along with some traditional lager recipes, use Aramis wherever a versatile, moderately spicy hop is needed.