Recently, you might’ve seen many brewers from Australia flying to the US for what’s called “hop selection” and they get to choose which hops they will purchase for the following production year. One of the most common destinations is to the farms of one of the most iconic names in the hop world: Yakima Chief Hops (YCH).
The story of Yakima Chief Hops is one of grower ownership, innovation, and a direct connection between hop farmers and brewers.
YCH is a 100% grower-owned global hop supplier, with its roots in the famous and fertile Yakima Valley of Washington State (often called "Hop Country, USA") going back to 1868. The current entity was formed from a network of family hop farms in the Pacific Northwest in 1988 and the subsequent hop breeding program began in 1990.
Why is YCH so important in the world of hops? Well just like Michael Jackson changed pop music forever, YCH changed the hop world with some incredible hits.
Through their partnership in the Hop Breeding Company (HBC), they have been responsible for introducing some of the most popular and influential proprietary hop varieties in the craft beer world, including Mosaic (HBC 369), Citra (HBC 394) & Simcoe (YCR 14). Sound familiar?
They are also leaders in innovation through their advanced products that help solve issues for brewers. One example is Cryo Hops (arguably their most famous innovation) which uses a cryogenic process to separate the concentrated lupulin from the vegetative hop material. This results in a product that provides more intense flavour and aroma, increases beer yield (less wastage) and saves brewers money and cold storage space. Other popular products are HyperBoost and Dynaboost for enhanced flavour and aroma.
They invest heavily in farms, by providing a strong Return-to-Grower, so farmers can invest in modern equipment and sustainable practices, leading to a more consistent, high-quality crop year after year.
In essence, YCH's importance lies in being the vital link that supplies the highest quality, most innovative, and often the most sought-after hop ingredients - many of which define the popular beer styles of today. What’s next? Only time will tell, but we’re thirsty for more!
Image: Yakima Chief Hops | yakimachief.com
