Hop Breeding Program
Our Hop Breeding Program began way back in the 1950s when we were all about growing bittering hops. Our primary focus was improving our alpha acid yield until the beginning of the craft beer movement rolled around. As beer drinkers began to move away from malt, bitterness and alcohol content toward flavour, aroma and diversity, we began to breed flavour hops for the emerging market.
Our Plant Breeders have since used their expert understanding of hops, and how to pair plants to breed desirable traits, to bring a number of hugely successful proprietary hops to brewers – Eclipse®, Ella™, Enigma®, Galaxy®, Luna®, Topaz™ and Vic Secret™.
Galaxy® is now considered to be one of the Big Eight varieties found in virtually every beer recipe as an indispensable guarantor of flavour intensity. But our thirst for uniquely Aussie flavour hops doesn’t stop there. We’re always searching for the latest flavour so we can continue to offer brewers choice and diversity.
Leading experimental hops
In the US, our partner grower is John I. Haas. They supply us with consistently high quality hops, including exclusive access to the Hop Breeding Company (HBC) proprietary varieties. While many hop suppliers carry Citra®, Mosaic®, Sabro®, Ekuanot® and Talus™, the Haas and HBC partnership in developing pest-resistant and disease-resistant hops with strong commercial qualities means HPA has access to the very best Citra available, supported by significant quantities.
Since the majority of our hops are proprietary varieties, we don’t sell rhizomes to others looking to establish their own hop garden.
NEXT IN BINE PROGRAM
Our Hop Breeding Program began way back in the 1950s when we were all about growing bittering hops. Our primary focus was improving our alpha acid yield until the beginning of the craft beer movement rolled around. As beer drinkers began to move away from malt, bitterness and alcohol content toward flavour, aroma and diversity, we began to breed flavour hops for the emerging market.
Our Plant Breeders have since used their expert understanding of hops, and how to pair plants to breed desirable traits, to bring a number of hugely successful proprietary hops to brewers – Eclipse®, Ella™, Enigma®, Galaxy®, Luna®, Topaz™ and Vic Secret™.
Galaxy® is now considered to be one of the Big Eight varieties found in virtually every beer recipe as an indispensable guarantor of flavour intensity. But our thirst for uniquely Aussie flavour hops doesn’t stop there. We’re always searching for the latest flavour so we can continue to offer brewers choice and diversity.
Our Next in Bine Program tracks promising experimental varieties as they progress through three deployment stages: Emerging, Evolving and Elite. Each stage represents a different point in their development, helping us identify the varieties with the potential to become HPA’s next commercial releases.
Elite varieties
Building towards commercial release
Experimental varieties being seriously considered for commercial release, with strong performance validated through commercial field and brewing trials. A meaningful quantity is available for brewers of all sizes to conduct full production-scale testing. Commercialisation is dependent on contracted demand and sufficient market opportunity.
Evolving varieties
Gaining momentum with brewers
Experimental varieties that have progressed beyond internal screening, exhibiting strong potential through small-scale field and brewing trials. A limited quantity is available for adventurous brewers with small commercial systems whose feedback will influence whether acreage increases for more reliable commercial supply.
Emerging varieties
Pioneering the future of hops
Experimental varieties that represent the cutting edge of HPA’s breeding program, showing early promise through internal field and sensory screening. A very limited quantity is available for pioneering brewers with dedicated pilot systems who want to help shape the next generation of Aussie hops.
In the US, our partner grower is John I. Haas. They supply us with consistently high quality hops, including exclusive access to the Hop Breeding Company (HBC) proprietary varieties. While many hop suppliers carry Citra®, Mosaic®, Sabro®, Ekuanot® and Talus™, the Haas and HBC partnership in developing pest-resistant and disease-resistant hops with strong commercial qualities means HPA has access to the very best Citra available, supported by significant quantities.
Since the majority of our hops are proprietary varieties, we don’t sell rhizomes to others looking to establish their own hop garden.
