This week is all about the awesome Willamette Hops. I have been asked do I grow hops I actually do and this is the variety I grow in my backyard. Right now I just clipped the vine down to get a strong root system. By July this plant will be 15 feet tall. I’ll post pics as this plant grows.
Willamette Hops was named after the mighty river that pours through the Willamette Valley in Southern Washington and Northern Oregon. It was developed and released by the U.S.D.A in 1976 and has taken root on the craft brewing industry and accounts for about 20% of total U.S. hops acreage. Willamette was a triploid seedling of Fuggle, which is a quintessential English variety that has shaped decades of brewing.
Willamette Hops is an aroma variety with a low alpha acid content at 4.0%-6.0%. Although it can contribute slightly to the bittering of a brew, Willamette dominates its usage for its flavor and aroma. Of the oils in Willamette, myrcene (30.0%-55.0%), humulene (20.0%-30.0%), as well as farnesene (5.0%-6.0%) are all elevated above the norm. This results in a delicate peppery herbacious spice that has both fruit and floral essence .
Beer with this hop –
Montana Brewing Company Brown Ale
Prescott Brewing Company Prescott Pale Ale
Santa Fe Brewing Company Sante Fe Stout
Tamarack Brewing Company LakesideESP
Brown’s Brewing Company Cherry Raspberry Ale
Cumberland Brewery Honey Wheat
Big Sky Brewing Company Moose Drool
Bison Brewing Company IPA
Pelican Brewery MacPelican Scottish Ale
Kona Brewing Company Duke’s Blonde Ale
Big Head Brewery Red Rooster Ale
