Items found matching the tag "blackberry"
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.
Keyworth's Early is a rugged pioneer of the mid-century British hop industry and a direct relative of the Midseason variety. Released in 1949 from the East Malling Research Station in Kent, it was developed by Professor Salmon as a vital defense against Verticillium wilt. By blending the untamed genetics of a wild New Mexican hop with traditional British stock, Salmon created a variety with a "New World" intensity decades before the concept existed. Although its commercial acreage eventually declined due to lower yields compared to its siblings, it has seen a modern revival through Charles Faram, remaining a landmark variety for brewers exploring the high-oil, high-impact roots of historical English ales. The profile of Keyworth's Early is a pungent and soulful arrangement of bright citrus and dark forest fruits. It leads with a primary bouquet of lemon zest, grapefruit, and wild blackberry, followed by a sophisticated secondary layer of sticky pine resin and earthy tobacco. Unlike the polite, floral hops common in the 1940s, Keyworth's Early is assertive and bold, offering a "wild" aromatic edge and a peppery spice that cuts through heavy malt bills. On the palate, it imparts a firm and lasting bitterness that provides the perfect counterpoint to the rich, biscuit-like sweetness of Maris Otter malts, making it the definitive choice for recreating authentic, historical strong ales.
Legacy® is a fascinating "wildcard" variety that brings a sense of history and discovery to the modern brewhouse. While it has been grown since 1963, it was officially registered by Hops Direct in 2013 and is grown exclusively at Puterbaugh Farms. Discovered as a unique seedling on Roy Farms in Washington, Legacy® stands apart from today's highly engineered hybrids, offering a profile that feels both nostalgic and innovative. It is a true dual-purpose hop that bridges the gap between the rugged, spicy character of 20th-century American brewing and the sophisticated, fruit-driven demands of the current craft scene, providing a complex, multi-layered soul to any recipe. The profile of Legacy® is a rich and soulful arrangement of dark forest fruits and classic herbal spice. It leads with a primary bouquet of blackberry, blackcurrant, and wild berries, followed closely by a sophisticated secondary layer of grapefruit zest, floral lavender, and a distinct peppery earthiness. Unlike many hops that focus on a single citrus note, Legacy® offers a "saturated" berry character that remains grounded by its noble-like herbal backing. On the palate, the bitterness is firm and extremely clean, allowing the dark fruit and spicy floral notes to linger through a dry, refreshing finish. It is the definitive choice for brewers seeking to create a complex, "all-American" character with an elegant, old-world twist.
Minstrel® is a standout variety from the "new wave" of British hop breeding, offering a sophisticated blend of heritage structure and modern aromatic flair. Developed by the Charles Faram Hop Development Programme and planted in 2006, it was commercially released in 2012. A descendant of Sovereign, Minstrel® was specifically bred to provide UK growers with a variety that could compete with the fruit-forward profiles of the New World while remaining rooted in the spicy and herbal complexity of English tradition. Although Charles Faram ceased commercial production in 2020 due to agronomic challenges, it remains a favorite for those seeking a "New English" depth with a distinct British personality. The sensory profile of Minstrel® is a harmonious and playful arrangement of ripe summer berries and refreshing citrus zest. It leads with a primary, "hedgerow" bouquet of red currants, blackberry, and orange peel, followed by a sophisticated secondary layer of dried herbs, black pepper, and a hint of sweet tea. As the profile develops, brewers will find a pleasant earthy foundation and a subtle floral sweetness that remains remarkably crisp on the palate. Thanks to its moderate alpha acid range and balanced oil ratios, Minstrel® delivers a soft, integrated bitterness and a long, fruit-saturated finish—the definitive choice for modern golden ales and pale ales.
Northdown is a masterful dual-purpose variety that stands as a pillar of the modern British hop industry. Released in 1970 by the Wye College breeding program in Kent, Northdown was engineered to offer brewers a more potent, higher-alpha alternative to the heritage English hops of the time. A direct descendant of Northern Brewer and a German donor plant, it combines robust agricultural yields with a complex chemical profile that allows it to excel at any stage of the brewing process. It serves as a versatile workhorse for those who want a dependable, clean bitterness without sacrificing the refined, spicy character of its ancestors. The sensory profile of Northdown is a sophisticated and comforting arrangement of forest resins and dark autumn fruits. It leads with a primary, "woodland" bouquet of cedar/[tag] wood, fresh [tag]pine, and herbal spice, followed by a secondary layer of blackberry, floral honey, and a hint of blackcurrant. As the profile develops, brewers will find a pleasant earthy "snap" and a subtle nuttiness that remains exceptionally clean on the palate. Thanks to its high essential oil content and balanced humulene levels, Northdown delivers a firm, structural bitterness and a rich, polished finish—the definitive choice for imparting a timeless English depth with a unique, fruity-spicy intensity.
Pacific Gem™ is an imposing high-alpha variety that serves as the structural cornerstone of many legendary New Zealand brews. Released in 1987 by the HortResearch Institute, it was engineered as a triploid cross of Fuggle, Cluster, and Smoothcone. This robust lineage created a hop optimized for maximum bittering efficiency without sacrificing the distinctive aromatic character that sets New Zealand varieties apart. Pacific Gem™ is a bold, "no-nonsense" hop, offering growers exceptional yields and providing brewers with a deep, resonant bitterness that can stand up to even the heaviest malt bills while contributing a sophisticated dark fruit complexity. The sensory profile of Pacific Gem™ is a striking and assertive blend of forest fruits and classic herbal spice. It leads with a primary, "dark" bouquet of crushed blackberries, blackcurrants, and oak, followed by a vibrant secondary layer of pine resin and earthy spice. As the profile develops, brewers will find a distinct "savory" depth and a hint of dark chocolate that provides a rich, substantial finish. Thanks to its high alpha acid content and significant oil saturation, Pacific Gem™ delivers a punchy, lingering bitterness and a saturated aromatic presence. It is the definitive choice for brewers seeking a sturdy foundation with a unique, berry-forward twist.
Purple Haze® is a visionary variety bred by Wild About Hops, representing a sophisticated evolution of elite Southern Hemisphere and European genetics. This unique cultivar was born from a cross between a Riwaka™ female and a Nelson Sauvin™ male, carrying a distinguished Saaz grandparentage. Its name is derived from the striking, deep purple hue of the bines it grows on, a visual testament to its distinct identity in the hop garden. While it possesses the resilience of modern breeding, its soft bitterness and Noble heritage make it an ideal "Special Flavor" choice for brewers looking to move beyond standard citrus profiles toward deep, berry-forward complexity. The sensory profile of Purple Haze® is an evocative and unique arrangement of sweet berries and delicate floral notes. It leads with a primary, "vibrant" bouquet of red currant, ripe blackberry, and wild strawberry, followed by a sophisticated secondary layer of lavender and violet. As the profile develops, brewers will find subtle hints of herbal tea and a very soft, rounded earthiness inherited from its Saaz ancestors. Thanks to its low cohumulone levels and refined oil composition, Purple Haze® delivers a gentle, clean bitterness and a crisp, fruit-focused finish, making it the definitive choice for imparting an elegant "purple" fruit impact.
Sussex is a fascinating "chance find" that proves nature is sometimes the best hop breeder. Discovered in 2005 by Peter Cyster on the Gate Court farm in Northiam, a site that has been cultivating hops since at least 1900, this variety was literally plucked from a hedgerow. While most hops are the result of rigorous laboratory crosses, Sussex is believed to be a unique, open-pollinated dwarf hop that emerged wildly in the English countryside. Propagated by Cyster after he noticed its promising growth habits, Sussex has become a celebrated "terroir" hop. It represents the historic growing conditions of Southern England so perfectly that it was famously championed by Harvey’s Brewery for their "Sussex Wild Hop" series. It is a vigorous, dwarf-habit plant that tells a story of traditional brewing revived through a lucky discovery in the brambles.
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.