Is it plausible/possible to breed Hops at home

[Jimbodaman]

Title says it all I'd love to cross say Galena and Saaz. Or Hallertau and Cascade. I've never grown hops but I get the general idea, I was thinking "wouldn't nature take its course eventually and create a mixture of your varieties"? I realize the hop cones we know and love are females... Just curious if anyone breeds or has accidentally bread them.

 

[PapaBearJay]

There are several topics about breeding hops and growing them from seed. It can be done, but it will take considerable time and effort. Some of us have been doing it for years, others for much shorter periods but I believe we all have the same general goal: better hops for our beers!

 

[DarkCoder]

Title says it all I'd love to cross say Galena and Saaz. Or Hallertau and Cascade. I've never grown hops but I get the general idea, I was thinking "wouldn't nature take its course eventually and create a mixture of your varieties"? I realize the hop cones we know and love are females... Just curious if anyone breeds or has accidentally bread them.

I warn you.... it will become an obsession. Start buying huge acreage of vacant land !!

 

[Jimbodaman]

There are several topics about breeding hops and growing them from seed. It can be done, but it will take considerable time and effort. Some of us have been doing it for years, others for much shorter periods but I believe we all have the same general goal: better hops for our beers!

Have you done that?! That's so cool, if so what have you bred. I once bred a bulldog with a shihtzu ...

 

[thaymond]

This thread is full of helpful information. I would likely be doing this, but I am short on space.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=464503

 

[nagmay]

Title says it all I'd love to cross say Galena and Saaz.

Unfortunately, hops do not grow "true" from seed. So, you would not end up with Galenaz or Salena - instead, every single seedling would be a new, unique plant. This is where the trouble starts. I am 4 years in and have sprouted over 500 seedlings: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=397219

 

[Jimbodaman]

Unfortunately, hops do not grow "true" from seed. So, you would not end up with Galenaz or Salena - instead, every single seedling would be a new, unique plant. This is where the trouble starts. I am 4 years in and have sprouted over 500 seedlings: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=397219

Wow what a great thread I read through about 15 pages so far. I think I have a general Idea of the process, not easy to do at home, but doable and every seed would likely not share many characteristics of the parents right? However if you got a great variety from say galena and saaz it'd be cool to call it salena *tm. Hoppy Brewing!

 

[nagmay]

... and every seed would likely not share many characteristics of the parents right? However if you got a great variety from say galena and saaz it'd be cool to call it salena *tm. Hoppy Brewing!

A "genetic lottery" is the best way I can describe it. Each seedling is a diverse set of phenotypes from the parents, grandparent, etc. Some may be similar to the previous generations, but others will be wildly different. Attached is a USDA family tree for hops. Notice that many of the well known varieties: Willamette, Cascade, Nugget, etc... were all bred from Brewer Gold, Hallertauer and Fuggle.

Right now I'm working with

• Cascade
• Chinook
• Nugget
• Pride of Ringwood
• Sterling
• Galena
• And a few wild neomexicanus varieties

So unfortunately, no Sazz. Would you settle for Stalena (Sterling x Galena)?

 

[Jimbodaman]

I finally finished scanning through the thread I'm glad to see the fruits of your labor are starting to pay off. If your 2016 harvest is bountiful and need any testers I'd be more than hoppy to offer my services (of course I'd pay for shipping etc.) I could take detailed notes and tell ya what I think

 

[alane1]

The only way I could see that working is to keep back crossing Galena offspring for 6 or 7 generations and then cross it with the Saaz. Even still it would take a mass selection to choose desired traits.

 

[JackCity63]

I love this idea! I really want to grow a "new" type of hops. jackcity hops could be in your favorite beer some day.