Items found matching the tag "aroma"
Adeena® was bred by Latitude 46 with parentage from a mother of Summit™ and a father of ADHA 34/95/57. The herbal and spicy flavor lends to lagers, pilsners and light styles of beer. While the hints of lemon and floral create a unique bouquet for said styles.
Ahtanum® is named for the location where Charles Carpenter established the first hop farm in the Yakima Valley in 1869. It is the first commercially available bred hop by Yakima Chief Ranches. Used primarily as an aroma hop due to low alpha acid composition.
Akoya™ was bred by Hopsteiner Breeding Program and is cross between Zenith and a Hopsteiner male. Akoya™ is a classic aroma hop based on its herbal and spice profile.
Alora™, formerly known as HS19901 and bred by Hopsteiner, has a very unique oil composition. Alroa contains over 50% of hop oil composition of unknown type. Typically hops are made up of Pinene, Mycrene, Limonene, Linalool, Caryophyllene, Farnesene, Humulene, and Geraniol. Selinene, a sesquiterpene rarely found in hops, makes up a the unknown oil. Selinene is important since it imparts citrus characteristics into the finished beer: Calamondin Oranges and Yuzu Fruit. The makeup of Alora is friendly to the environment as the genetic makeup was chosen from hops that are disease. The name Alora™ is of Latin origin meaning "beautiful dream, dreamlike, or divine light."
Amarillo® is a super version of Cascade that has a distinctive orange character that separates it from Cascade. Trademark owned by Virgil Gamache Farms and was found by them growing alongside Liberty in their hop yard.
American Pie® has a mother of Riwaka™ and a father of Tangerine Dream®, bred by Wild About Hops in New Zealand.
Anchovy, originally named 24B-05, was bred at Segal Ranch in the Yakima Valley, Washington. The odd name was coined by Fast Fashion Brewing in Seattle, Washington, after being the first to use the hop commercially. Possibly released in 2022.
Aquila was bred in Washington, Oregon and Idaho in 3-acre trials in 1987 by United States Department of Agriculture. Eventually released commercially in 1994 after trials. Anheuser Busch showed interest and Washington in increased to 100 acres to allow for evaluation. Aquila was open-pollinated from Brewer's Gold. Aquila hasn't worked out as a commercial hop due to high cohumulone content and subpar storage stability. Discontinued in 1996 after Anheuser Busch lost interest.
Aramis is the first variety from the Comptoir Agricole breeding program in France, bred in 2002. Aramis comes from a breed of Strisselspalt and Whitebread Golding. It was bred to create Strisselspalt character hop with increased and stable bitter potential.
Archer® was bred in the United Kingdom by the Charles Faram Ltd as part of their Charles Faram Hop Development Programme. The aroma is considered unique as it is a mix of class British and citrus. Archer® is a seedling of Sovereign and was planted along with Minstrel®. Released in 2013. A strong grower that needs to be held back in spring to promote bine growth.
Audacia™ was developed by Indie Hops Flavor Project and released in 2023. AudaciaTM has lineage from Hersbrucker Pure female and a male, 1218-2M, which is related to Strata™, Indie Hops Flavor Project first hop release. Considered by the developer to be a bold "noble" hop.
Aztec™ was bred by Great Lakes Hops. The Neomexicana hop has superior growth, disease resistance and aromatic qualities.
Bohemie was bred by Hop Research Institute in Žatec, Czechia with heritage of Sládek mother and unknown variety derived from Saaz. Released in 2010 with a goal of providing "noble" characteristics while increasing yield, concentrating oil profile, and increasing disease resistance. Even though it is tougher than Saaz in wet/humid climates it needs a watchful eye. Considered more of an aroma hop based on noble heritage, it carries bolder aromatics compared to Saaz with higher alpha acid content that allows it to be used for bittering.
Bombastic® was bred by Wild About Hops in New Zealand. From Riwaka™ (f) and Nelson Sauvin™ (m), this hops drops the bomb of aroma and flavor with passionfruit, blackberry, ginger, lime, melon, and white wine grapes. Large, 6cm cones make this easy to harvest.
Cascade was released in 1972 by the United States Department of Agriculture in Oregen, it is named for the Northwest mountain range. Primarily developed at Oregon State University East Farm in Corvallis. Cascade is a cross between Fuggle and Serebrianka (Russia) and open pollinated in 1955. Cascade is the first superstar of American hops and paved the way for bold hops in today's brewing scene. The ratio of alpha to beta acids is similar to European aroma hops.
Elani was bred by Yakima Quality Hops, initially known as YQH-1320. Elani was available commercially for the first time in 2022.
Erebus™ is a high geraniol content hop with strong disease resistance. Geraniol is what imparts flower and fruit aromas. This profile makes Erebus a good late addition hop, including whirlpool and dry hopping. The hop was released in 2024 by Hopsteiner.
Exotique® was bred by Wild About Hops in New Zealand. Bred from a Riwaka™ female and proprietary male, is full of peach, blueberry, pear, kiwi, and lime.
First Choice was selected in the 1960s by Dr. R.H.J. Roborgh at the Riwaka Research Station near Nelson, New Zealand. A cross between Cluster and open pollination, First Choice was grown for 20 years, starting in the 60s, but is no longer grown commercially.
Godiva™ was developed by Charles Faram Ltd and it an aroma hop. A smooth bitterness does make it good as an early kettle addition too. Selected for yield, disease resistance and aroma, Godiva™ is a daughter of Jester™.
Golden Star has heritage of Saaz and White Vine-OP. Selected by Dr. Y. Mori of Sapporo Brewery, Japan from a mutant of Shinshuwase, making it nearly identical. Commercially only grown in Japan as an aroma hop that is difficult to pick as the cones shatters easily.
Hallertau has lineage back over 100 years. Great for German beers as well as Belgian ales. An original noble hop. Susceptible to disease, it has been the center of many offspring.
Hallertauer Tradition is a German hop that is great for German style beers. Originally bred because of it's resistance to disease at the Hüll Hop Research Institute in Germany in 1993. Heritage of Hallertau, Saaz and unknown varieties.
Helga has lineage from Hallertau, bred in 1986, by Hop Products Australia, with similar characteristics as Hallertau. Helga was commercially released in 1996 but took 10 years to gain traction.
Hersbrucker represents a large acreage in Germany, named for the region in which it is primarily grown (also in the Hallertau region) as it replaced the traditional Hallertau since it is more disease resistant. Acreage peaked in the 70s and 80s.
Hokitika® is of European origin but was first grown in New Zealand in 1882. The hop originated from a hop garden that was started in the 1880's by the brewery principal, WCJ Kortegast, at Kortegast's Brewery at Gibson Quay, on the Hokitika River. Those gardens had been growing wildly for 136 years.
Kazbek was bred by Hop Research Institute in Žatec, Czech Republic from Saaz and a wild hop similar to Cascade. Its aroma is similar to Saaz but more intense. Released in 2008. It is named for the Kazbek peak, one of the highest in the Caucasus mountain range. Great in beers that need an intense noble hop profile.
Liberty is an American hop with German heritage; bred to resemble Hallertau, therefore it is primarily used for aroma. Development began in 1983 by the United States Department of Agriculture program in Corvallis, Oregon before commercial release in 1991.
Limealicious® has a mother of Motueka™ and an unnamed father in 2020. Bred by Wild About Hops gets its name from the lime green leaves that glow yellow with lime stripes in the sun.
McKenzie™ is the first hop variety released by the West Coast Hop Breeding Company. It took five years of breeding before the hop was released. Named after a river the breeder for West Coast Hop Breeding Company grew up fishing. Initially available in 2021 with acreage ramping up since. More pine, resin forward when used in the boil, post boil will bring out the fruitiness.
Mellow Yellow® was bred by Wild About Hops from Hersbrucker seed brought over by German immigrants. The gentle and subtle profile lend to the hops name: Mellow Yellow.
Most™ was bred by Charles Faram and released in 2020. Most is a sister to Jester™ and Olicana®. It's aromatics make it best suited for late additions and dry hopping. Grown in the Czech Republic, Most became the first Charles Faram grown outside the United Kingdom. It takes it name from the Czechian city Most, which means bridge.
Mount Hood was bred with the intention of creating an American replacement for noble hops. Initially bred in 1983, Mount Hood was commercially released in 1989. More hops would follow soon afterwards from the Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon by United States Department of Agriculturebreeding program: Liberty (1991), Crystal (1993) and Ulta (1995). Mount Hood has heritage form Hallertau and USDA 19058M male. The male, USDA 19058M, is the same male used in multiple other successful crosses, resulting in varieties like; Lemondrop™, Super Galena™, and Sultana™.
Mystic™ was bred at Charles Faram and is a daughter of Jester™. Commercially released in 2017, Mystic was selected for its aroma, disease resistance, and yield.
Nadwislanska is a selection from an old Polish land race. It is no longer grown commercially in Poland as it is susceptible to viruses and/or low yield in spite of a heat treated version being created that removed the virus infection susceptibility.
Nectaron® was developed by New Zealand's Plant & Food Research. The triploid hop that is a sister of Waimea™. Based on the bio makeup of Nectaron®, it creates a different profile when used with American and English yeast. Best used late and for dry hopping. Nectaron® is named by putting together "Nectar of the Gods and Ron Beaston, the principle scientist at Plant and Food Research.
Neoplanta was bred at the Institute for Agricultural Research in Yugoslavia in the late 1960s or early 1970s, possibly by Mr. Andrej Mijavec (the hop breeder at the time). It is a cross from Northern Brewer and a male that originated from Styrian Golding and a Yugoslavian wild hop. Has not been accepted well, therefore acreage is limited. Originally developed to replace Backa and a sister to both Dunav and Vojvodina.
Opus™ is a sister of Emperor® and, itself, is an experimental varietal from the United Kingdom by Charles Faram. Initially bred in 2013 and released in 2016. Late addition hop.
Believe to have be be of Tettnanger decent from the Yakima valley by Yakima Chief Ranch.
Paradigm™ was developed by Great Lakes Hops. The hops shines in late kettle additions to let the flavor and aroma come through.
Released commercially in 1978, Perle was bred in Hüll, Germany at the Hop Research Center, is a cross between Northern Brewer and German male. Perle was bred to create a more resistant version of Hallertau.
Pride of Kent was bred from Brewer's Gold and open pollination at Wye College, England by Professor E.S. Salmon. Mother of the popular Australian hop Pride of Ringwood.
Purple Haze® was bred by Wild About Hops from a Riwaka™ female and a Nelson Sauvin™ male with a Saaz grand parent. A soft bitterness and Saaz heritage make it ideal for lagers. Purple Haze gets it name from the deep purple hue of the bine it grows on.
Record originated in Belgium pre-1970, it was bred from open pollination of Northern Brewer and Saaz. Aroma characteristics are similar to Northern Brewer. Hop is grown commercially in Belgium and Germany.
Riwaka™ was bred from Saaz, released by New Zealand's Plant & Food Research in 1997. This is a very high oil content hop.
Saaz, a noble hop, is low in alpha acids but is still used for bittering quite often. Saaz was officially registered in 1952 but dates back at least 700 years, originating in the Czech Republic. It is one of the original noble hops. Saaz has issue with disease and low growth rate.
United States version of Saaz was started from a Czechoslovakian Saaz seedling which was received by United States Department of Agriculture in 1973. Difficult to grow and a low yield. Saaz (US) is expected to be related to Hersbrucker and Spalt.
Santiam is a triploid hop: 1/3 of each Tettnanger, Hallertau and a unknown USDA male (derived from Cascade), released in 1997 by Agriculture Research Service, which is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, located in Corvallis, Oregon.
Saphir contains one of the lowest alpha acid contents in the world, therefore it is always used as an aroma hop. A German release in 2000 it contains a fruity profile, unlike many German hop varietals. Saphir was bred at the Hop Research Center in Hüll, Germany. Similar to much of the hop breeding in Germany it was sought as a substitute to Hallertau to be more disease resistant.
Shinshuwase was an open pollination of Saaz and White Vine-OP in Japan from the early 1900s. This is a major hop variety in Japan, the only country that grows the hop.
Sládek has parentage from a cross between Saaz and Northern Brewer. Sládek means "brewer". Initially registered in 1987, named changed to Sládek in 1994. Bred to be a sturdier version of Saaz. A mother hop to Bohemie. Bred by Hop Research Institute in Žatec, Czechia. Good balance of bitterness and aroma that fits perfectly for lagers.
Grown in the Spalt region of Germany, Spalt is a natural hop and has a mild and pleasant character. Part of the Saaz family. A classic hop for German style beers. Due to Spalt being a natural hop, this hop may date back as far back as 8th century. It was the first hop granted the German hop seal in the 16th century.
Spalter Select is a more disease resistant version and replacement for Spalt released in 1993. It was bred in Hull, Germany and is a cross between Splat and Hallertau. Spalter Select was released in 1991 by the Hop Research Center of Hull.
Strisselspalt is from the Alsace area of France and is one of the few varieties of hops from France. It is an European land variety hop - one that grows naturally in the area. The hop seems to start appearing around 1855. Strisselspalt has a pleasant aroma which, tied with low alpha acid and co-humulone, makes it a great substitute for noble hops.
Styrian Celeia, almost a carbon copy of Fuggle hops, is a low alpha varietal with traditional European aroma. It is a triploid from Styrian Golding, Styrian Aurora and wild Slovenian hop. Not well received, therefore isn't wildly grown.
Styrian Golding was bred due to in the 1930s there was an disease with hops grown in the Styria area of German, as a result they bred hops with an English variety. Great in English and Belgian ales. Uncanny is the fact, in spite of its name, it doesn't belong to the Golding family.
Sunbeam is a cross from Saaz and open pollination by Dr. Al Haunold in 1990 at the Hop experimental farm, East Farm, Corvallis, OR. Considered an ornamental diploid plant, it was never meant for commercial production, but the Saaz-like aroma makes it great for lagers. The plan is sensitive to sunlight due to reduced chlorophyll content, therefore semi-shade is needed to keep the leaves from shriveling and browning.
Sunshine is an open pollination hop that has a complicated breeding process by Professor E.R. Salmon at Wye College, England, during the 1920s or early 1930s, which may have included some wild American varietals. Sunshine and open pollination breeding made it the mother of Comet.
Tango is a contemporary German masterpiece that represents the future of sustainable brewing. Developed at the Hop Research Center Hüll (originally known as experimental seedling 2011/02/04) and released in late 2020, it was engineered to meet two modern demands: high-impact aromatics and climate resilience. By crossing the legendary American Cascade with a German male derived from Hallertauer Tradition, Hüll researchers created a "Best of Both Worlds" cultivar. Tango possesses the deep, "Noble" roots of the Hallertau but is supercharged with the citrus-forward energy of the New World. Most importantly for the future of brewing, Tango is a "climate-tolerant" variety, requiring fewer resources and thriving in shifting weather conditions where traditional landrace hops might struggle.
Tardif de Bourgogne is a rare heritage landrace that serves as a living link to the pre-industrial hop gardens of France. While its exact pedigree remains a mystery, it is widely accepted as a clonal French landrace—a "Late of Burgundy" variety that adapted over centuries to the specific climate of Eastern France. Though the United States Department of Agriculture received samples from Poland in 1977, the hop’s heart remains in the Alsace and Burgundy regions, where it was once the primary choice for farmhouse brewers before the rise of Strisselspalt. Because it is an authentic landrace, Tardif de Bourgogne hasn't been "smoothed over" by modern laboratory breeding. It retains a hardy, rustic character and a deep genetic affinity for the traditional Bière de Garde and Saison styles. For the brewer seeking historical accuracy, this hop offers a regional specificity and "Old World" soul that modern hybrids simply cannot touch.
Teamaker is a revolutionary variety from the United States Department of Agriculture that completely flips the script on hop breeding. While most hops are judged by their bittering power, Teamaker was engineered for the exact opposite mission: high antimicrobial potency with virtually zero bitterness. Bred from a global genetic pool including Fuggle (31.25%), Late Grape, and Late Cluster, it was originally intended for the pharmaceutical and herbal tea industries. Because its alpha acids often measure below 1.0%, Teamaker is essentially "non-bittering." This unique chemical makeup has made it a "secret weapon" in the craft beer world. It allows brewers to load up on hop-derived health benefits and floral oils without moving the IBU needle. Whether you are crafting a "Hop Water" or a medicinal herbal ale, Teamaker provides the soul of the hop plant without the sting of the lupulin.
Tettnanger is one of the four original "Noble Hops" of Europe, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Saaz, Spalt, and Hallertauer. Named after the town of Tettnang in Southern Germany, this landrace variety has a pedigree that can be traced back to 1844, with some records suggesting its cultivation in the Lake Constance region as early as 1150. Unlike modern high-alpha hybrids, Tettnanger is a product of its environment. It has evolved in perfect harmony with the unique soil and microclimate of its home district, creating a delicate chemical profile that simply cannot be replicated elsewhere. While there are US, Australian, and Swiss versions of this hop, the German original remains the definitive cornerstone of traditional European brewing. It offers a level of sophisticated elegance that defines the classic profiles of world-class Pilsners and Lagers.
Tettnanger (US) is a distinguished aroma hop with a fascinating—and somewhat mysterious—botanical identity. While it shares a name with the legendary German Noble variety, DNA profiling has revealed that the American version is actually a Swiss landrace cultivar. It arrived in the Pacific Northwest and carved out its own niche, proving to be more genetically related to the Fuggle lineage than the Tettnanger hops of the Hallertau. Since its introduction to American soil, Tettnanger (US) has become the ultimate "bridge" hop for craft brewers. It offers the refined, spicy elegance of European tradition combined with the rugged dependability of American-grown cultivars. It is a true dual-heritage hop: cleaner and more floral than its English cousins, yet sturdier and more reliable in the field than its German namesake.
The Bruce is a powerhouse aromatic blend born from the sun-drenched gardens of Freestyle Hops in New Zealand. This proprietary "mixtape" was crafted as a tribute to Bruce Eggers, a legendary Sunrise Valley hop farmer known for his immense knowledge and generous spirit. Rather than relying on a single plant, The Bruce is a meticulous combination of Nelson Sauvin™, early-season Motueka™, late-season Pacifica™, and mid-season Pacific Jade™. By utilizing hops harvested at different points throughout the season, Freestyle Hops has created a blend that offers a more complete chemical profile than any single variety. It is specifically engineered to maximize free thiols and "survivable" oils—the compounds that survive the boil and thrive during fermentation. For brewers, it provides a consistent, high-impact "Best of NZ" experience that removes the year-to-year variability of single-farm cultivars.
Trident™ is a high-octane hop blend released in 2019 by the experts at Hopsteiner. It was born from a singular mission: to provide brewers with a "one-stop shop" for the massive, juicy aromatics required by the Northeast India Pale Ale (NEIPA) revolution. By combining three distinct Pacific Northwest varieties into one consistent pellet, Trident produces a complex aromatic layering that is virtually impossible to achieve with a single hop cultivar. What truly makes Trident unique is that it was formulated with biotransformation in mind. The blend is rich in specific "survivable" oils and esters that interact with yeast during active fermentation to create new, lush flavors. As a specialized tool, it offers a reliable and incredibly potent way to reach that professional-grade tropical profile without having to manage three separate hop inventories.
Triskel is a sophisticated French aroma hop that perfectly captures the elegance of the Alsace region. Developed in 2006 by the Comptoir Agricole, it was born from an inspired cross between the legendary French Strisselspalt and a male parent of the robust English Yeoman. Its name is a tribute to the "Triskelion"—the ancient triple-spiral symbol of the Gauls, the ancestors of the modern French people. This variety was bred with a specific mission: to maintain the delicate, "Noble" floral soul of Strisselspalt while solving its low-yield and low-oil challenges. By introducing English genetics, breeders created a hybrid that offers significantly amplified aromatic intensity and higher essential oils. For the brewer, Triskel is a premier choice for adding French refinement to modern recipes, offering a more durable and aromatic alternative to traditional landrace varieties.
Tropadelic® is a proprietary New Zealand standout developed by the innovative breeders at Wild About Hops. Positioned as a versatile "New Breed" cultivar, it was specifically selected for its ability to thrive in the unique maritime climate of New Zealand while producing a heavy, oil-rich crop of aromatic cones. Unlike many of the high-alpha heavyweights from the region, Tropadelic was bred with a focus on aromatic finesse over sheer bittering power. This makes it a refreshing alternative for brewers who want the "New World" tropical punch without the aggressive resinous bite. Because of its manageable alpha acid content and high aromatic potential, it has rapidly become a favorite for modern "session" IPAs and summer-style ales where drinkability is just as important as impact.
Ultra is a sophisticated, American-bred aroma hop that serves as a bridge between the legendary hop yards of Europe and the modern American grower. Released in 1995 as part of a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative, Ultra was engineered to be the ultimate "Noble" replacement. It is a triploid variety—meaning it has three sets of chromosomes—which gives it a more robust growth habit and higher oil potential than many of its ancestors. Its pedigree is a "Who's Who" of European royalty, featuring a direct cross between Hallertau, Saaz, and a third unknown hop. This genetic blend allows Ultra to capture the refined, aristocratic essence of continental hops while offering the agricultural resilience needed to resist pests and diseases that often plague imported varieties. For the brewer, it represents a perfect marriage: Old World elegance met with New World reliability.
Vanguard represents the final chapter in the United States Department of Agriculture's ambitious mission to domesticate the classic "Noble" character of European landrace hops. Bred in 1982 and officially released in 1997, it is a direct descendant of Hallertau Mittelfrüh. It was engineered to provide American growers with a hearty, disease-resistant plant that could finally go toe-to-toe with the world's most famous German lager hops. What makes Vanguard a true outlier in the hop yard is its unusual chemical fingerprint. It is one of the rare varieties that features low alpha acids but high beta acids. This rare balance, combined with exceptional storage stability, makes it a reliable and sophisticated choice for brewers who demand traditional, clean-finishing European styles without the logistical headache of importing delicate overseas flowers.
Vista is a modern aromatic marvel, officially released in 2021 as a crown jewel of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS) public breeding program in Corvallis, Oregon. Originally bred in 2006, it spent over a decade in the "Elite Line" trials, engineered to stand toe-to-toe with the most popular proprietary tropical hops on the market. Its pedigree is a fascinating blend of structural reliability and modern zest, pulling genetics from Perle, Northern Brewer, and Hallertau. What sets Vista apart is its "triple-threat" agricultural profile: it was specifically selected for massive yields, high drought tolerance, and extreme heat resistance. This makes it a sustainable hero for the future of American hop farming. As a public variety, Vista offers every brewer a world-class, high-impact aromatic profile that is accessible to all, serving as a cornerstone for the next generation of fruit-forward American craft beers.
Wai-iti™ is a vibrant New Zealand aroma hop released in 2011 alongside its cousin, Kohatu®. Developed by the New Zealand Plant & Food Research program, this triploid variety was bred from a lineage that includes the refined Hallertau Mittelfrüh and Liberty. While its ancestors are known for "Noble" spice, Wai-iti was specifically engineered to move in a completely different direction: maximum fruit impact with exceptionally low bitterness. Because of its gentle alpha acid content, Wai-iti has become a "secret weapon" for brewers of Hazy IPAs and sessionable summer ales. It was designed for those who want to drenched a beer in tropical aromatics while avoiding the resinous "hop burn" often associated with high-alpha varieties. It is a specialized tool for the modern brewhouse, almost exclusively reserved for late-kettle additions, the whirlpool, or the dry hop.
Released in 1976 by the United States Department of Agriculture, Willamette is the definitive success story of American hop breeding and remains the master of earthy elegance. Named after the historic Oregon valley that has been a hub for hop viticulture since the mid-1800s, it was engineered to be the domestic successor to the English Fuggle. By crossing a Tetraploid Fuggle with a Fuggle seedling, researchers created a hop that retained the "Noble" soul of its British ancestor while thriving in the unique soils of the Pacific Northwest. For decades, Willamette was the most widely grown aroma hop in the United States, serving as the aromatic heart of the early American craft beer revolution. If you are looking for a "pillowy" aromatic depth that respects your malt bill, Willamette is the undisputed heavyweight, speaking with a refined, herbal whisper rather than the loud citrus of modern "C-Hops." The sensory experience is defined by a rich, multi-layered bouquet of fresh earth, damp cedar, and mild herbal spice, often accented by a soft floral sweetness and subtle notes of black pepper or elderberry. In the brewhouse, its low alpha acid and remarkably smooth bittering make it a versatile "all-rounder" and the secret to a perfectly balanced Pale Ale, robust Porter, or silky Stout. It provides a sophisticated finish that grounds the beer and complements the delicate flavors of specialty grains without the aggressive "bite" of high-alpha hybrids.
Discovered growing naturally in the rugged canyons of Colorado, Willow Creek is a true North American original. As a member of the neomexicanus subspecies, it evolved independently of European hop lineages, giving it a genetic "wildness" that is entirely unique. It shares a close kinship with other native stars like Amalia and MultiHead, yet it stands out for its impressive resilience; unlike many of its desert cousins, Willow Creek shows a surprising tolerance for moisture and colder mountain temperatures. For the craft brewer, Willow Creek is more than just an ingredient—it’s a taste of the American West’s wild terroir. It offers a chance to brew with a plant that has thrived in the wild for millennia, long before the first commercial hop yards were ever tilled.
Hailing from the historic growing regions of Southwest Germany, Wuerttemberger is an ancient landrace variety that once stood alongside Saaz and Tettnanger as a pillar of European brewing. Though it is no longer produced on a commercial scale, it remains a "holy grail" for heritage brewers. As a landrace hop, Wuerttemberger wasn't bred in a lab; it evolved naturally over centuries to suit the German climate, resulting in a "Noble" profile that is purely a product of its terroir. It is a delicate, low-alpha variety that prioritizes aromatic grace over raw bittering power—a true liquid artifact for those seeking to recreate the original German lagers of the past.
Developed at the historic Wye College in 1968, Wye Saxon was bred to be a bridge between Britain and the European mainland. A sister to Wye Viking, its pedigree traces back to Svalöf - a legendary Swedish hop that is now extinct in commercial farming. While many British hops are known for heavy spice and earth, Wye Saxon was engineered to mimic the refined, "Noble" traits of German and Czech varieties. Though largely utilized for breeding programs rather than mass-market production, Wye Saxon remains a fascinating niche variety. It offers growers a sturdy defense against Verticillium wilt while providing brewers with the delicate, floral elegance usually reserved for traditional Hallertau or Saaz.
Bred at the legendary Wye College in 1968 and released to the public in 1973, Wye Viking was engineered for strength. A sister to Wye Saxon and a grandchild of the iconic Bramling Cross, Viking was developed to provide British growers with a high-alpha variety that could stand up to the agricultural threat of Verticillium wilt. While it was built to be a high-efficiency bittering workhorse for commercial breweries, Viking never lost its refined English soul. It represents a pivot point in British brewing history—moving toward higher alpha acid concentrations while maintaining the classic, earthy pedigree that defines the UK’s most famous ales.
Developed by the flavor experts at the BarthHaas, in Germany, Yellow Sub is a masterfully composed "Hop Creation" designed to deliver high-impact aromatics with German precision. Rather than a single variety, Yellow Sub is a proprietary blend of elite German aroma hops meticulously selected to replicate the bold, fruit-forward profile of iconic New World hops like Amarillo®. For the brewer, Yellow Sub represents the ultimate in reliability. Because it is a blend, it bypasses the flavor fluctuations often found in single-farm harvests, offering a rock-solid, year-over-year consistency. It provides the "punch" of a Pacific Northwest hop while retaining the clean, refined brewing performance that is the hallmark of German hop science.
Formerly known as Samba, Zamba™ is the flagship proprietary release from the BSG Hop Solutions Program. Unlike traditional single-variety hops, Zamba is a masterfully curated blend designed to take the guesswork out of brewing high-impact IPAs. By scientifically pairing specific cultivars, Zamba ensures that your beer delivers a consistent, high-intensity aromatic profile year-round, bypassing the natural flavor swings often found in single-hop harvests. It is essentially a "one-stop shop" for tropical complexity. Zamba was engineered to cut through heavy malt bills and high-gravity mashes, providing a reliable foundation for any brewer looking to achieve a "commercial grade" fruit-forward profile in their homebrewhouse.
Zappa™ is named after the avant-garde rock legend Frank Zappa, this hop is just as eclectic and non-conformist as its namesake. Unlike the vast majority of hops that trace their roots back to Europe, Zappa is a native North American variety belonging to the neomexicanus subspecies. Discovered growing wild in the mountains of New Mexico and brought to the world by CLS Farms, it represents a genetically distinct "wildness" that evolved independently of traditional brewing varieties. For the homebrewer, Zappa is the ultimate tool for experimental expression. It breaks every "rule" in the book, offering a flavor profile that shifts and evolves with every sip. It’s a favorite for those looking to push the boundaries of what a hop can be, bridging the gap between tropical fruit sweetness and savory, "funky" complexity.
Born in 1976 at the renowned Hop Research Institute in Žatec, Czech Repulic, Zlatan is more than just a Saaz derivative—it is a masterclass in agricultural refinement. While the legendary Saaz hop is prized for its flavor, it is notoriously difficult to grow. Zlatan was developed through rigorous clonal selection to bridge that gap, offering brewers the same sophisticated "Noble" pedigree but with the added benefit of modern crop resilience and improved yields. For the homebrewer, Zlatan is the secret to an authentic Bohemian Pilsner. It carries a refined, "soft" bitterness that never overstays its welcome on the palate. The aromatic profile is pure elegance: expect a fragrant tapestry of herbal tea, delicate spring florals, and that signature spicy-earthy snap that defines the finest European lagers. It is the perfect choice for those who want a traditional Czech character with a cleaner, more reliable finish.