When Australian hop Pride of Ringwood was released in 1958 it had the distinction of being the hop with the highest alpha acid content in the world. Though that title has been long surpassed it is still an incredibly popular bittering hop. Best utilized fresh, Pride of Ringwood is primarily a bittering hop but also exhibits spicy, fruity aromas when …
Pacific Sunrise
Released in 2000 by HortResearch in New Zealand, Pacific Sunrise’s take up by commercial breweries has been sluggish. Despite this, it features favorable bittering properties and a pleasant piney aroma. It is the result of a cross between the result of a European and New Zealand male on one side and a California Cluster and a Fuggle on the other. …
Pacific Gem
Pacific Gem is a New Zealand hops variety of interesting character. Bred at the New Zealand Horticultural Research Centre as a triploid cross between Smooth Cone, California Late Cluster and Fuggle, it is used around the world in various styles but most notably in European lagers. It was released in 1987. Despite its high alpha acids its high cohumulone content …
Outeniqua
Mild, pleasant and slightly spicy, Outeniqua is an excellent, high alpha bittering hop from the land of milk and honey—a moniker of the South African region where it is grown. Primarily used only locally, Outeniqua features a well-balanced oil profile and a strong, punchy, hoppy aroma. Outeniqua is also the mother of high-alpha variety, Southern Star. Want this hop? Browse …
Kitamidori
Developed by the Kirin Brewery Company in Tokyo, Japan, Kitamidori is no longer grown commercially there or anywhere else. It was bred alongside Toyomidori and Eastern Gold as a potential super alpha replacement for Kirin II, which was itself a replacement for Shinshuwase hops. It sports an oil composition with remarkable similarities to Saaz. Want this hop? Browse our recommended …
Magnum
Magnum is fast becoming a brewing favorite in Europe and towards being one of the most widely grown high alpha varieties in the US. Used predominately as a base bittering hop it features an exceptional growth rate, yield and superlative storage stability and is said to result in squeaky clean bitterness and subtle citrus-like flavors. Originally created at the German …
Magnum (US)
Magnum is grown on limited acreage in the US but what is produced has an excellent bittering profile and a nice, hoppy, floral aroma and subtle characters of citrus. Though genetically indistinguishable from the original German Magnum, some subtleties undoubtedly exist through varied growing conditions between the two countries. Both hops however are largely considered to be totally interchangeable. The …
Millennium
Millennium was, unsurprisingly, released in the year 2000. Emanating from the John I. Haas Breeding Program, Millennium hops are directly descended from Nugget and are considered similar in many ways to Columbus. They were born largely out of a desire for greater disease resistance and storage stability. They work well as a bittering agent in American-style ales, Stouts and are …
Newport
Newport is the offspring of Magnum and a USDA male variety. Oregon State University and the USDA successfully bred it in 2002 in an effort to address concerns over mildew resistance. It was said to have helped save Northwest US hops production around this time when mildew issues threatened multiple hops varieties. Newport features flavors ranging from wine-like to balsamic …
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 …