Items found matching the tag "resinous"
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.
Released by the United States Department of Agriculture breeding program in 1985, Chinook is considered by the some the fourth member of the Three C's: Cascade, Centennial, and Columbus / Tomahawk / Zeus (CTZ). With no trademark, Chinook is a great candidate to grow at home.
Emperor® was bred by Charles Faram in 2013, being released in 2016. Sister to Opus™. Bred to meet the needs of bigger and bolder hops, the highish alpha acid level and great aroma characteristics make this a dual threat.
Jester™ was developed by Charles Faram, released in 2013 after originally being planted in 2009 along with Olicana®, its sister. With breeding from Cascade it may be used for bittering and aroma purposes. Optimally needs warm spring weather to produce best characteristics.
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.
Millennium was released in the year 2000, thus the name, as a high alpha breed. A Nugget descendant that carries similar characteristics, as well as to Columbus / Tomahawk / Zeus (CTZ), bred for its disease resistance. Mainly used for bittering but gaining interest as an aroma hop as well.
Developed and bred at Wye College, Northern Brewer was released in 1934. Of Brewer's Gold and East Kent Golding lineage, in spite of originally being an English hop, it is now mostly grown in Germany and the United States.
Nugget was bred by the United States Department of Agriculture in Corvallis, Oregon, starting in 1970.. Initial commercial release was 1983. Brewer's Gold heritage. Used primarily as a bittering hop, especially in the early days, but now has been given dual duty as an aroma hop as well. Pedigree is quite complex and makes it a mutt: Brewer's Gold, Early Green, East Kent Golding, Bavarian (unspecified) and unknown variety.
Sasquatch® is the first trademarked hop from Canada, grown commercially in British Columbia, by Hops Connect. Based on the type of hop that Sasquatch® is paired with will bring out different aspects of the profile.
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.
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.
Tillicum® is a high-performance American bittering hop that represents the evolution of Pacific Northwest breeding. Released in 1995 by the John I. Haas program, it was developed from a cross between the legendary Galena and a select Haas male. Its name, derived from Chinook Jargon meaning "people," "family," or "friends," reflects its deep roots in the Washington hop-growing community. As a sister variety to Chelan, Tillicum® was engineered to be a "Super-Galena." It offers the same rugged reliability as its parent but with higher alpha acid efficiency and superior storage stability. While it is a primary choice for commercial hop extracts, craft brewers have reclaimed Tillicum as a foundational bittering hop. It provides a clean, dependable bitterness that remains stable even in high-gravity beers with heavy malt profiles.
Topaz™ is a premier Australian dual-purpose variety that perfectly captures the bold, experimental spirit of Southern Hemisphere brewing. Developed in 1985 by Hop Products Australia and released in 1997, it was born from a cross between high-alpha Australian hops and genetics from Wye College in the United Kingdom. Originally, Topaz™ was a utilitarian variety, selected almost exclusively for high-alpha acid extract production. However, as the craft revolution took hold, brewers discovered a hidden secret: when treated with the respect of a late-addition hop, Topaz sheds its "workhorse" reputation to reveal a complex tapestry of exotic fruit. It is now celebrated as a dual-purpose powerhouse, providing the structural muscle needed for high-gravity brews and the vibrant aromatics required for modern, fruit-driven ales.
Toyomidori is a vintage high-alpha variety from Japan, released in 1990 by the Kirin Brewery Hop Research Farm. Bred in 1981, it was developed as a robust cross between the legendary Northern Brewer and a wild American male (USDA 64103M). Toyomidori was engineered to be the heavy-hitting bittering foundation for Japan’s iconic crisp lagers, providing high-efficiency alpha acids for large-scale production. While its commercial cultivation in Japan eventually declined due to a high sensitivity to downy mildew, Toyomidori’s DNA lives on in the modern "juice" revolution. It is the direct genetic parent of the tropical powerhouse Azacca™, proving that even a "workhorse" bittering hop can pass on incredible aromatic potential to the next generation. For brewers, it represents a classic era of Japanese hop science that paved the way for the modern craft movement.
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.
Tropica is a "terroir-driven" marvel developed by Minnesota Axe Hops in the heart of the North Star State. While its genetic blueprint is rooted in the legendary Chinook, Tropica is a masterclass in how geography and specialized handling can completely redefine a hop's identity. What truly sets Tropica apart is the meticulous "low-and-slow" processing. By drying the hops at temperatures below 110°F–120°F, the farmers preserve the delicate, volatile oils that are usually scorched away in industrial kilns. This specialized care, combined with unique Minnesota soil, allows Tropica to shed the aggressive pine-heavy profile of its ancestors and emerge as a "clean" tropical powerhouse indigenous to the American Midwest.
Vital is a cutting-edge Czech variety that represents a fascinating shift in modern hop breeding. Developed at the Hop Research Institute in Žatec (the home of Saaz) and released in 2008, Vital was originally bred for pharmaceutical purposes. Its mission was to maximize the concentration of specific antioxidants and "healthy" hop compounds like Xanthohumol and DMX. Bred from a lineage involving Agnus, Vital was registered as a "biomedical" hop due to its incredible anti-oxidative stability. For the brewer, this translates to a beer that stays "fresher" for longer. While it offers the high-alpha bittering efficiency of a modern hybrid, it retains the refined European soul of its Czech heritage. It is the perfect choice for those who want the muscle of a bittering hop without losing the delicate prestige synonymous with the Žatec region.
Vojvodina is a sophisticated heritage variety hailing from the historic hop-growing regions of the former Yugoslavia. Released in the early 1970s at the University of Novi Sad, it was engineered as a robust successor to the delicate, low-yielding Backa landrace. This variety is a masterclass in cross-continental breeding, combining the legendary Northern Brewer with a lineage derived from Styrian Golding and indigenous wild Yugoslavian hops. Vojvodina is a sister hop to Dunav and Neoplanta, and it is famously identifiable in the field by its distinct reddish main vine—a trait that hints at its rugged, wild ancestry. While it was designed to provide the higher yields of a modern hybrid, it was carefully selected to maintain the "Noble" soul of its ancestors. Today, it remains a sought-after rarity for brewers who want to capture an authentic European character that is more intense and resilient than standard noble cultivars.
Waimea™ is a high-alpha force of nature, released in 2012 by the New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research. It was originally bred to meet the growing demand for efficient bittering hops that didn’t sacrifice aromatic soul. Its lineage is an impressive "greatest hits" of brewing history, pulling genetic traits from Saaz, Fuggle, and California Late Cluster. Despite its "big beer" reputation and alpha acid levels that can soar up to 19%, Waimea is far from a blunt instrument. It was engineered with exceptionally low cohumulone levels, ensuring that its massive bittering potential remains smooth and clean rather than harsh. This unique balance has made it a favorite for brewers who need the sheer muscle for a 60-minute boil but want the sophisticated, fruit-forward nuance required for a world-class dry hop.
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.
While its DNA belongs to the legendary Columbus / Tomahawk / Zeus (CTZ) hop family, Zenia is far from your standard bittering hop. Cultivated by the farmer-owned Mighty Axe Hops in Minnesota, this variety is a testament to the power of terroir and specialized processing. Unlike its ancestors, which are often picked early for raw bittering power, Zenia is harvested late and aged in climate-controlled environments. This deliberate "resting" period allows the pungent, sulfurous notes often found in high-alpha hops to fade away, leaving behind a refined and complex aromatic profile. The result is a uniquely American hop that bridges the gap between old-school "dank" characteristics and modern, fruit-forward intensity. Currently difficult to source following the closure of Mighty Axe Hops in 2020.