We’re excited to introduce Luna®, a new flavour hop from our powerhouse breeding program and the next juicy chapter in beer innovation. Luna® is distinguished by its lush mango, dark berry and spicy citrus characteristics, alongside a high polyphenol content that elevates the flavour profile and mouthfeel. It perfectly complements other modern hops and lends itself to many popular beer styles. From Pilsners to IPAs, Luna® offers brewers creative flexibility backed by agronomic reliability.
Our hop breeding program began way back in the 1950s, when we were all about growing bittering hops like Super Pride and Topaz™. Then the craft beer movement began, and we shifted our focus to flavour hops like Galaxy® and Ella™.
When Dr Simon Whittock took over the program in 2007, he began sorting through our experimental hops in search of lupulin gold. He selected Vic Secret™, Eclipse® and Luna® for field trials because they were born from a triploid breeding strategy that consistently delivers climate resistance, high flavour impact and cost-effective brewing performance.
Every year, our agronomy team breed new experimental hops chasing the next big flavour. Very few of those progress from field trials to brewing trials, and even less go on to be commercialised. Those that get the nod, go through more than a decade of development before receiving a name. It’s been six years since we commercialised Eclipse®, and now we’re beyond excited to introduce Luna®.
Just like our customers, our hops are big characters. When choosing a name, we like to consider both the hop’s flavour profile and its position in our portfolio. Luna® seemed like the obvious choice for a hop that is distinguished by lush mango, dark berry and spicy citrus characters, alongside a high polyphenol content that elevates the flavour profile and mouthfeel. It’s smooth. It’s radiant. It’s expansive.
Luna® was created by our breeding program in 2003, through a cross-pollination of high alpha Australian and Liberty hops. It is optimally adapted to our changing climate, with proven agronomic and sensory performance in both Victoria and Tasmania. Initially identified for its early harvest window, meaning it doesn’t overlap with Galaxy® or Vic Secret™, Luna® has always performed exceptionally well in brewing trials.
Since 2012, we’ve worked with Lion, Sapporo, Firestone Walker, Stone & Wood, Balter, Little Creatures, 4 Pines and Rocky Ridge, among others, to understand its sensory profile. With an aroma intensity akin to Krush™, and a biotransformation potential similar to Galaxy®, Luna® is a joy to experience in the whirlpool and dry hop.
A late whirlpool addition of 1-2g/L (0.4-0.7lb/bbl) accentuates the spicy citrus characters, which can present as marmalade when interacting with darker malts. While a dry hop of 4-10g/L (1.3-3.3lb/bbl) elevates those lush mango and dark berry flavours alongside mouthfeel. It’s quite intense and complex, but very well-balanced and a great foundation for layering other modern hops like Galaxy®, Vic Secret™, Azacca® and Mosaic®.
“Luna’s seriously good in beer” says Ross Terlick, Head Brewer at Rocky Ridge. “It creates some beautifully complex notes of spicy citrus on the hot side, and juicy mango on the cold side. I can see Luna becoming a very popular hop. I honestly reckon it’s going to rival Galaxy.”
Luna is currently available in limited quantities, but we plan to progressively double production volume over the next three years, with plenty of capacity to scale operations in response to contracted demand.
“This is a new beginning” says Dr Whittock. “HPA is committed to bringing new Australian hops to market more frequently, selecting for agronomic performance in a changing climate, exceptional flavour impact, and innovative product opportunities. Our goal is to give brewers a competitive edge in the market, and beer lovers a great experience that keeps them coming back time and again.”
We’re inviting brewers to experience Luna® firsthand during this year’s Australian harvest. Every brewer who makes the journey to Victoria’s High Country for a farm tour will receive a limited-edition mixed pack of beers from Bridge Road, Bright Brewery, King River and Mountain Monk that will showcase the hop’s character across multiple beer styles.
Bright Brewery’s annual hop harvest dinner has also been reimagined as the official Luna® launch party. “It’s the perfect setting to celebrate our new hop” say Grace Irwin, Chief Marketing Officer at HPA. “Guests can enjoy a beer or two with our local growers and spin the prize wheel for everything from exclusive merchandise to crop 2026 Luna. It’s sure to be a fun evening that brings together innovative hops, exceptional beer, and the best of the High Country.”
We’ve also partnered with other members of the BarthHaas group to introduce Luna® to international markets. Haas will pour a Luna® beer at the Craft Brewers Conference in April and US harvest in September, and BarthHaas will feature it in beer at Brew Asia in October and their Inspiration Range at BrauBeviale in November.
Both BarthHaas and Haas will also highlight Luna® alongside our other uniquely Australian hops at AusFest – a new series of guided sensory sessions and high-profile collaboration beers launching later this year to coincide with the arrival of crop 2026. Together, these initiatives will bring Luna® directly to brewers around the world.
Learn more about Luna® here, and contact your local rep to secure your supply today. Available in T90 pellets and Prysma™ – a liquid addition for integrating flavour throughout the brewing process, without notable bitterness.
