Items found matching the tag "northdown"
Admiral hops was released for commercial use in 1996 (other sources have it as 1998). It was created from a male Challenger plant and female plant in the Northdown family. It is the first UK hop to have an alpha acid over 15.0%. Works well as a replacement for bittering and aroma.
Phoenix is a high alpha varietal that performs well early in the boil. Bred at Wye College in Kent, England, it is an offspring of Yeoman. A replacement to Challenger as is more resistant to disease, but could not fulfill on that promise due to low yields and slow growth. Phoenix is considered a dual hop but typically used early in the boil for its clean bittering qualities. As a late addition it tends to be disappointing as it is mellow.
Redsells Eastwell is a premier Goldings selection that represents the pinnacle of traditional English hop cultivation. Selected in 1988 on Tony Redsell’s farm in Kent, this variety emerged from a Wye College research initiative aimed at developing virus-free versions of heritage stock. As a true East Kent Golding (EKG) varietal, it offers the legendary aromatic finesse that has made the region world-famous, but with a distinct agricultural advantage: it is one of the most vigorous and robust Golding plants ever cultivated. This combination of heritage soul and modern reliability makes it a sustainable favorite for producing authentic, "estate-grown" British ales with a genuine sense of place. The sensory profile of Redsells Eastwell is an elegant and sophisticated tapestry of "Noble" English characteristics. It leads with a primary, "gentlemanly" bouquet of delicate honey[tag], sweet [tag]meadow flowers, and fresh-cut hay, followed by a refined spicy-herbal undertone. As the profile develops, brewers will find subtle secondary notes of earth and a mild, woody bitterness that remains exceptionally smooth on the palate. Thanks to its very low cohumulone levels and classic oil composition, Redsells Eastwell delivers a soft, rounded bitterness and a clean, dry finish—the definitive choice for complementing premium Maris Otter malts without overwhelming the palate.
Target is a legendary high-alpha variety that has served as a cornerstone of British brewing since its public release in 1972. Developed at the world-renowned Wye College in the early 70s, it was a breakthrough for the UK industry: the first variety to marry massive bittering power with the agricultural "grit" needed to thrive in Kent’s unpredictable climate. As a direct descendant of Northern Brewer and Eastwell Goldings, Target bridges the gap between Victorian-era tradition and modern efficiency. While it is a cousin to the more subtle Challenger, Target was bred for impact. It transformed the UK hop industry by allowing brewers to achieve bold bitterness with far less plant material. Though once viewed as a utilitarian workhorse, it has been rediscovered by the craft movement as a premier aromatic hop for those who want a quintessentially English soul with a modern, assertive edge.
Developed at the prestigious Wye College in the 1970s and released in the early 1980s, Yeoman was bred to be the "Super-Alpha" powerhouse of its era. Designed as a more robust successor to the Target variety, it provided commercial brewers with unmatched bittering efficiency without sacrificing the soul of English hop character. While Yeoman is no longer available for commercial purchase, its impact remains. It was a vital genetic stepping stone, used to breed the disease-resistant and high-yielding hops that modern homebrewers rely on today. For decades, it stood as the gold standard for British bittering, offering a sturdy, clean foundation that allowed the complex malts of traditional ales to take center stage.