Ahtanum^® Hops

Bred and officially released by Yakima Chief Ranches in 1997, Ahtanum^® (designated under the brand ID YCR 1 cv.) is a foundational open-pollinated American aroma cultivar that carries a legendary legacy. Its name serves as a historic homage to the Ahtanum^® Creek area of the Yakima Valley, where Charles Carpenter established the region’s very first commercial hop farm back in 1869. As the historic first commercially available proprietary variety to emerge from the Yakima Chief Ranches breeding program, Ahtanum^® distinguished itself early on by focusing heavily on aromatic refinement rather than heavy brewhouse bittering. Though its timing and general composition often caused it to be cast in the shadow of Cascade, this low-alpha variety quickly carved out its own elite reputation, famously taking center stage as a spotlight selection in celebrated craft staples like Stone Brewing’s classic Pale Ale.

The sensory footprint of Ahtanum^® is an incredibly delicate, multi-layered masterpiece that delivers a highly polished, classic American aroma without any aggressive, heavy-handed modern intensity. The aromatic canopy opens beautifully with a highly focused, vibrant top note of sweet, zesty grapefruit peel and soft geranium blossoms. This punchy, uplifting citrus canvas is elegantly rounded out across the palate by an understated, deeply grounding middle tier of fresh cedar wood, dried kitchen herbs, and damp, resinous pine needles. Thanks to its low-alpha acid composition and immaculate essential oil distribution, Ahtanum^® contributes an exceptionally smooth, rounded bitterness when utilized early in the kettle. However, it truly commands the spotlight when thrown heavily into late-kettle, whirlpool, or dry-hop additions, where its volatile oils coat the palate with a clean, nostalgic, and beautifully integrated finish.