New Hop Variety

My only experience with Citra hops is in Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA, which is very tasty. If I ever find them, I will purchase some no doubt.

I just read about these hops in the Mid-Atlantic Brewing News newsletter that my LHBS hands out with every purchase. Apparently, homebrewers won't be able to get their hands on them for quite a while. They are only growing them experimentally on 2 acres...bummmmmer. Torpedo IPA is really good though...many tropical flavors and aromas from the Citra.

It's so interesting how much of a different soil and climate have on a hop's characteristics; I mean, you figure you start with Hallertau and Tettnag and EKG, you're thinking a classic noble-type hop but instead it sounds more in the vein of the classic American hops. Same when you bring Cascade down to Argentina! Location is EVERYTHING, I'm now convinced that there's only one variety of hop and that different varieties just represent different locations!

IF they are grown somewhere in Washington or Oregon, I will find them !!

-Jason

Hokie said:

I just read about these hops in the Mid-Atlantic Brewing News newsletter that my LHBS hands out with every purchase. Apparently, homebrewers won't be able to get their hands on them for quite a while. They are only growing them experimentally on 2 acres...bummmmmer. Torpedo IPA is really good though...many tropical flavors and aromas from the Citra.

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Where are these two acres at? I have a shovel and a couple more acres!

the_bird said:

It's so interesting how much of a different soil and climate have on a hop's characteristics; I mean, you figure you start with Hallertau and Tettnag and EKG, you're thinking a classic noble-type hop but instead it sounds more in the vein of the classic American hops. Same when you bring Cascade down to Argentina! Location is EVERYTHING, I'm now convinced that there's only one variety of hop and that different varieties just represent different locations!

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I think you are on to something, I have read about this in other plants, Tulips I think, that is why the best ones come from Holland

Terroir - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think it holds true for a lot of food products. Coffee, tea, wine...and hops.

billf said:

Terroir - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think it holds true for a lot of food products. Coffee, tea, wine...and hops.

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Well, it's a huge deal in the wine industry, but I've had some terrific wines from the Finger Lakes that are grown from the same types of grapes grown in Germany (like Rieslings), and I can't perceive a huge amount of difference. But, plant some German hops in the same area, and I bet they'd be COMPLETELY different. I'm saying that the effect of region seems to be a lot more dramatic for hops than for many other agricultural products; the differences we're talking about between domestic and Argentinian Cascades, for example, are anything but subtle!

is it possible that sierra nevada has a contract on these hops and owns the right to them?? just a thought.

AquaDementia said:

is it possible that sierra nevada has a contract on these hops and owns the right to them?? just a thought.

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In the forthcoming Torpedo package, we are not only using the new Hop Torpedo method, but also debuting a new variety of hop. We are using a new varietal called the Citra hop. Sierra Nevada ( and two other breweries) funded the research and development of this variety and we own most of the acreage available in the world, (which is something like 3 acres).

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Sierra Nevada Torpedo becomes first new year-round release in over 28 years | Beernews.org