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 …
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 …
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 …
Apollo
Super-alpha hop Apollo was first bred in 2000 by Hopsteiner and released to the public in 2006. it is descended from Zeus and two other unnamed USDA varieties. It tends to be quite expensive, though quantities used tend to be smaller due to its ultra-high concentration of alpha-acids. To it’s credit, Apollo’s abundance of alpha acids also come with a …
Banner
Banner did not fare well on the commercial market. Bred from a Brewer’s Gold seedling in the early 1970’s through open pollination, its first test plot was abandoned due to severe mildew problems. It was finally released along with its half-sister Aquila in 1996 having caught the interest of goliath American brewing company Anheuser Busch. Eventually though, after several years …
Calypso
Calypso is a Yakima Valley bred, dual-purpose diploid hop with Hopsteiner lineage on both sides. Despite its aroma-focused origins, it boasts a high alpha acid percentage. In addition to this, Calypso features crisp, fruity aromas and flavors that exhibit elements of apple, pear and stone fruit brightened with hints of lime citrus. It is marvellously complex with an almost understated …
Bitter Gold
Super-alpha variety Bitter Gold’s heritage comes from varieties Bullion, Brewer’s Gold, Comet and Fuggle. It features an alpha-acid percentage higher than any of its parents and higher even than Galena or Nugget, to which it is often compared. Released for production in 1999, Bitter Gold is quite versatile and can be used as a bittering or flavor addition imparting strong …
Bravo
Bravo’s high alpha content is largely attributable to its parent variety, Zeus. It’s bittering quality is considered smooth and in addition features light floral aromas and subtle flavors of orange and stone fruit making it highly desirable for use in many different ale styles. Developed as part of the Hopsteiner Breeding Program, Bravo hops were released to the public in …
Brewer’s Gold
Brewer’s Gold hops were selected by Ernest Stanley Salmon at Wye College in England in 1919 and were the result of the open pollination of a wild hop sourced from Morden, Manitoba. Despite its initial popularity, the advent of super-alpha hop varieties in the 1980’s rendered Brewer’s Gold largely redundant from a commercial perspective. For brewer’s wishing to experiment though, …
Bullion
Sister selection to Brewer’s Gold, Bullion was first bred in 1919 at Wye College, England and originates from a wild hop cutting sourced from Manitoba, Canada. It was officially released in 1938. Bullion features many of the same brewing traits as its sibling with flavors of dark fruit and elements of spice arising from its use as a mid to …