Hops

What we're growing and our strive for quality.

Demand Quality.

We want the best for your product and we want you to demand that from us. Disease management, harvesting, proper processing, packaging and storage, all steps that demand attention in order to deliver the best product to you.

View our varieties

Numbers are important.

Hop testing is a critical aspect to get right year in and year out. Our current testing provides us 3 numbers we feel are critical for people to know and understand. We currently test every variety, every year at least once.

α

Alpha Acids (AA)

Contribute to the bitterness of the product. Lower alpha numbered hops are typically used for aroma and flavour while higher alpha is used for bitterness.

β

Beta Acids (BA)

Largely ignored but play a key role that should be understood. While beta acids can add to aroma, their value and timing in your process can play a key role in flavour and longevity or storage.

HSI

Hop Storage Index

A measure of the degradation of alpha and beta acids during storage and handling of hops. Generally you want to see an HSI of less than 0.30. As hops age, the Alpha and Beta acids on the label become less and less true.

So what's happening in your beer.

When trying to understand how to use hops, understanding your chosen variety and end goal are just the first step. Here are some great resources about acids and HSI.

What we're growing.

We keep things simple on the farm. We're focused on delivering quality, versatile, dependable hop varieties. While the names may look familiar, it's critical to understand that despite the variety, the growing environment will drive completely unique characteristics into the hop. We are constantly updating our information with the feedback that we are hearing from brewers.

Valley Cascade

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Cascade is the hop that started it all. Named after the mountain range in Oregon, it defined the American Pale Ale style. Cascade offers a great citrus grapefruit flavor and aroma from the high levels of myrcene oil. It's ideally used in late hop additions to maximize that bright flavor and aroma. The bright citrus is backed by some soft floral and spice, which rounds out the profile. It makes a great wet and whole cone option.

Aroma: Citrus (Grapefruit) and Floral
Use: A dual purpose, most often used as an aroma hop, but also has a use on the bittering side of the brew.
Available as: wet hop, pellet or whole leaf.

Numbers

Alpha 4.9
Beta 6.4
HSI 0.13

Adjusted to 10% moisture. Results from Canadian Institute of Food & Wine, Niagara College.

What's being brewed with Valley Cascade?

  • Nita Beer - OPA Balanced IPA
  • Whiprsnapr - 2022 Fresh Hop Rye Pale Ale
  • Whiprsnapr - 2023 Friends & Family Harvest Pale Ale
  • Broadhead - 174 Series - Wet Hop Harvest
  • Broadhead - Underdog Pale Ale

Beer Styles

American Pale Ale India Pale Ale American Porter Blonde Ale Amber Ale American Hefeweizen American Barley Wine Red Ale

Lanark Centennial

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Sometimes referred to as a "Super Cascade" because its aroma is somewhat like cascade but has a higher bittering potential. Centennial is incredibly well-rounded and useful for bittering, flavor, aroma, and dry-hopping. You'll find vibrant citrus and soft pine characteristics. Centennial is the featured hop in legendary IPAs.

Aroma: Pine, mild citrus, and floral notes.
Use: A dual purpose hop with good aromatic qualities and high alpha acid. Often used for dry hopping.
Available as: wet hop, pellet or whole leaf.

Numbers

Alpha 10.9
Beta 3.2
HSI 0.22

Adjusted to 10% moisture. Results from Canadian Institute of Food & Wine, Niagara College.

What's being brewed with Lanark Centennial?

  • Whiprsnapr - 2022 Fresh Hop Rye Pale Ale
  • Whiprsnapr - 2023 Friends & Family Harvest Pale Ale

Beer Styles

Pale Ale Amber Ale American IPA American Blonde American Stout American Wheat Double IPA Barley Wine Red Ale

Northern Galena

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Galena is well known as a reliable, clean-bittering, high alpha hop. The clean-bittering of this hop works well as the base bittering palate for other more flavorful and aromatic hops. Rarely used as a late stage hop unless you're looking for strong blackcurrant.

It is characterized with aromas of sweet fruit such as peaches and pears; citrus elements like grapefruit, lime, and pineapple. Hints of spicy woodiness, blackcurrant, and gooseberry can also be found.

Aroma: Peach, Pear, Citrus (grapefruit, lime, pineapple), Blackcurrant
Use: Bittering hop, traditionally used as an early hop in the brew.
Available as: wet hop, pellet or whole leaf.

Numbers

Alpha 9.8
Beta 7.6
HSI 0.17

Adjusted to 10% moisture. Results from Canadian Institute of Food & Wine, Niagara College.

What's being brewed with Northern Galena?

  • Nita - Lite Lager
  • Whiprsnapr - Let's Go Pale Ale
  • Cold Bear - Canadian Pils
  • Stalwart - Down by the River
  • Spark - Canadian Dreams Pilsner
  • Broadhead - Wheat 26
  • Broadhead - 174 Series - Black Currant Cream Ale

Beer Styles

English Style Ales India Pale Ales American Pale Ale Stouts Barley Wines Brown Ales Porters American Wheat Golden Ales

What works with Galena, or what other hops is it like?

Galena is commonly used alongside Simcoe, Cascade, Centennial, Chinook or Amarillo.

If you're wondering how to use Galena in your beer, it shares similar properties to hops like Brewers Gold, Columbus, Zeus, Nugget, Tomahawk. So if you've used these before or your recipe calls for them, give Galena a try as a substitute.