Emperor^® Hops

Emperor^® stands as a compelling contemporary British triumph engineered specifically to satisfy the modern craft brewing industry's appetite for intense, high-impact aromatic properties. Developed under the elite Charles Faram Hop Development Programme, this dual-purpose titan was first crossed in 2013 and officially released to commercial fields in 2016, with its initial propagation handled by veteran grower Simon Parker in the historic soils of Herefordshire. Genetically established as a direct sister to the popular Opus™ variety, Emperor^® represents a deliberate and highly successful shift toward breeding robust, high-yielding, and disease-resistant British plants capable of rivaling intense "New World" sensory traits. For regional farmers and modern brewhouses alike, it serves as an incredibly dependable asset, proving with its elevated alpha-acid levels that traditional English terroirs can yield deep, heavy oil profiles that command attention in bold, hop-forward recipes.

The profile of Emperor^® is a dense, warming, and wonderfully layered composition that masterfully interweaves bright, modern citrus elements with deeply traditional European base notes. The aromatic experience opens with a forward, highly pronounced top-note of thick orange zest and bright, sun-ripened citrus oils. As this initial fruit layer settles on the senses, it expands into a complex and comforting mid-palate dominated by sweet, resinous pine needles, fresh-picked savory herbs, and clean, structural wood tones, before finishing with a fine accent of rustic culinary spice. This unique balance—retaining a smooth, distinctively British underlying identity while simultaneously projecting a bold, expressive citrus punch—makes it uniquely suited for elevating complex malt bills, ensuring its vibrant fruit and forest character is never lost in a heavy grain structure.