Hallertau, Hallertauer and Hallertauer Mittelfrüher are all names for the original German Hallertau variety. Dating back more than 100 years, it stems from an old German landrace and is one of the original four “noble” hops. It features a lightly flowery and spicy aroma. Though its popularity has been steadily declining over the past 50 years — primarily as a …
Hallertau (NZ)
New Zealand Hallertau is a triploid hop bred from Hallertau Mittelfrüher and a New Zealand male cultivar. First introduced in 1988 by HortResearch (now the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research), it is purported to impart a distinct lime ‘zing’ beneath a delicately floral top. Despite being bred from Hallertau Mittelfrüher, its New Zealand parent has modified the …
Comet
Comet has an intriguing parentage of English Sunshine and a native American hop, bringing out a “wild American” flavor. Released in 1974 by the USDA, Comet was originally bred to address the needs for higher alpha hops. Today, it is no longer in commercial production and is somewhat difficult to find. Comet’s flavor profile rests heavily on a strong accent …
Eastern Gold
Eastern Gold is a Super Alpha variety developed in Japan by Kirin Brewing Co. Ltd Hops Research from Kirin No. 2 and OB79, an open-pollinated wild American hop. Despite its yield potential, high alpha acids and storage stability, it seems it is not currently being grown in any significant commercial capacity. Very little is known about the history of its …
Eroica
Despite Eroica hops enjoying a high alpha acid percentage, they are, on paper at least, overshadowed by their sister Galena. It appears this comparison is also moving them toward denouement of commercial production along with their cones being considered difficult to harvest and it’s susceptibility to Ringspot and Mosaic virus. Developed by both the Idaho and Oregon Agricultural Experiment Stations …
Galena
Super alpha Galena is one of the most widely used bittering hop varieties in the US and is also an excellent dual-use hop. Galena’s fruity flavor profile really kicks with clean and agreeable notes of citrus. Some brewers have noted its better when boiled in smaller quantities and that later additions bring forth stronger aromas of blackcurrant. Directly descended from …
Cluster (US)
Cluster (US) is thought to be one of the oldest and most robust hop crops in the US. With its balanced aroma and bittering profile and outstanding storage stability, it has long been a go to hop of large commercial breweries in the US. So prolific was Cluster’s use in fact that at the beginning of the 20th century Cluster …
Columbus
The exact lineage of the proprietary hop Columbus is unknown. Its namesake was created in part as the result of a legal dispute between Hopunion and Yakima Chief when both parties attempted to patent the same hop. Yakima Chief’s variety was named Tomahawk®. After an agreement was reached, both names were registered. They are technically the same hop however. Originally …
Delta
Released in 2009, aroma variety Delta is a relatively new kid on the block. It is a Fuggle-type hop, similar to a Willamette, but with a kick. It features a mild and pleasantly spicy aroma of with notes of melon and citrus. Delta is considered ideal for ale finishing. Hopsteiner first offered Delta to Boston’s Harpoon Brewery as a cross …
Falconer’s Flight®
Falconer’s Flight® is a proprietary blend of Pacific Northwest hops. These include 7 “C” hops, Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Citra®, Cluster, Columbus and Crystal in addition to experimental varieties developed by Hopunion LLC. Launched in 2010, it is considered a dual-purpose blend particularly suited to IPAs, but also Pale Ales and Lagers. Falconer’s Flight® is listed has having distinct tropical, floral, …