Cekin Hops

Cekin represents a fascinating, rare chapter in late 20th-century European hop genetics, cataloged under the official designation USDA Accession No. 21613. Bred in the 1980s by the esteemed Dr. Dragica Kralj at the Hop Research Institute in Žalec, Slovenia, this triploid aroma variety was developed by crossing the prominent European cultivar Aurora with an unknown, proprietary Yugoslavian male breeding line, making it a direct genetic sister to Cicero. Formally received as experimental rhizomes by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1990, Cekin was thoroughly evaluated in Pacific Northwest trial plots to analyze its performance outside of continental Europe. Structurally distinct as a low-trellis candidate due to its uniquely short lateral side arms, it produces compact, easily managed bines in the field. However, because it never garnered widespread industrial acceptance from macro-breweries, its commercial acreage remains exceptionally limited, positioning it today as a prized heirloom variety for craft beer preservationists and historical recipe recreations.

The sensory architecture of Cekin delivers an ultra-refined, classic continental profile that heavily channels the noble, old-world elegance of premium Styrian Golding landraces. It opens with an incredibly clean, hoppy-fresh bouquet characterized by dried summer grass, crushed noble tea leaves, and a soft, comforting foundation of rich forest loam. This tranquil, rustic base is beautifully lifted by a distinct layer of delicate garden spices—recalling warm cedar wood shavings and dried tarragon—alongside a very subtle, refreshing whisper of zesty lemon peel. Completely devoid of the heavy sulfur, aggressive diesel-dankness, or intense tropical fruit esters typical of contemporary New World hybrids, Cekin offers a beautifully centered, polite botanical perfume and a smooth bittering quality. It integrates seamlessly into delicate wort matrices, perfectly enhancing continental lager styles without ever overpowering the native cracker-like profile of pale base malts.