Audacia^™ Hops

Introduced to the brewing world in 2023 by the Indie Hops Flavor Project, Audacia^™ is a fascinating "sassy noble hop" bred by Dr. Shaun Townsend at Oregon State University. This progressive American cultivar was born from crossing a classic German Hersbrucker Pure female with "1218-2M"—a robust male lineage closely related to Strata^™, the program's flagship hop release. Engineered to bridge the gap between traditional old-world elegance and punchy, new-wave fruit dynamics, Audacia^™ boasts fantastic agronomic field performance and robust vine vigor. It represents a major leap forward in modern hop breeding, giving craft brewers an incredibly unique, climate-resilient tool that punches far above its analytical oil weight to deliver complex berry dynamics while remaining perfectly balanced for lower-gravity recipes.

The sensory architecture of Audacia^™ is a remarkably unique, layered masterpiece that completely redefines traditional continental expectations by leaning into sharp, wild berry dynamics. The aromatic bouquet opens instantly with a deep, sweet-tart fruit core dominated by ripe huckleberry, tart redcurrant, wild lingonberry, and dark pomegranate. This vibrant berry canopy seamlessly unfolds across the palate into a sophisticated, highly elegant mid-palate featuring fresh rose petals, soft lavender, and crushed lilac. Grounding this flamboyant display are subtle citrus undertones and a remarkably smooth, integrated bittering structure. Free of any harsh, rustic, or overly aggressive resinous notes, Audacia^™ infuses beers with a polished, clean finish that adds a brilliant pop of modern color to classic, light-bodied malt backbones.