Hokitika^® Hops

Hokitika^® is a living piece of brewing history, capturing an incredible tale of survival and revival from the rugged West Coast of New Zealand. Though it is of European origin, it was first planted in 1882 by pioneer brewer William C.J. Kortegast at his brewery on Gibson Quay along the Hokitika River. Remarkably, these plants escaped cultivation and grew entirely wild for 136 years before being rediscovered. Genetic testing reveals that this heirloom variety matches no other hop in the modern global database. Reintroduced for brewers who value true historical authenticity, Hokitika^® provides a magnificent bridge between classic, old-world European noble grace and the pristine growing conditions of New Zealand's South Island.

The profile of Hokitika^® is an intricate, soft-spoken arrangement of continental meadows and delicate sweets. Stepping completely away from the high-octane, tropical fruit-bomb characteristics common to modern New Zealand cultivars, Hokitika^® leads with a graceful primary bouquet of wildflower honey, sweet nectar, and fresh floral blossoms. This gentle entry is followed immediately by a sophisticated secondary layer of warm baking spice and fine garden herbs. On the palate, its high humulene and farnesene oil content translates to an exceptionally smooth, noble-style presentation. The bitterness is delicate and unassuming, framing the beer with a clean, dry, and elegantly spicy finish that permits complex malt characters to seamlessly share the spotlight.