Banner Hops

Bred in the 1980s via open pollination of a Brewer's Gold mother plant, Banner is an elusive American cultivar developed at the Oregon State University East Farm as part of the World Hop Cultivar Collection in Corvallis, Oregon. This variety balances a rugged, old-school bittering baseline with a surprisingly pleasant, soft aromatic character that initially captured serious attention from industry giants like Anheuser-Busch in the late 1980s. However, its commercial trajectory was plagued by agricultural vulnerabilities. Severe susceptibility to downy mildew delayed its official public release until 1996, and poor storage stability ultimately caused it to fail subsequent brewing trials. These fragile storage qualities and mildew issues kept it from becoming a viable long-term commercial option, leaving Banner as a fascinating, rare historical relic of late-20th-century Pacific Northwest hop breeding.

When utilized in the kettle, Banner delivers a robust, unpretentious bittering framework backed by a light, clean herbal undertone and delicate, soft floral notes. Due to a high myrcene oil concentration, the aromatic profile leads with a classic, deeply woodsy and resinous presence that anchors traditional recipes with an authentic, old-school punch. Entirely free of the flashy tropical or sweet fruit traits found in modern hybrids, its clean and straightforward herbal canopy opens up into a grounded mid-palate of fresh pine and dried grass. While its poor storage stability requires immediate, careful handling to preserve its volatile oils, a well-preserved lot of Banner offers an incredibly smooth, integrated bitterness that perfectly complements heavy, malt-forward historical styles.