Hops are the green flowery cones of a long vine, Humulus lupulus. Most of the hops used in the United States are grown in the Oregon/Washington region, with the majority of them coming from the Yakima Valley of Washington. This is where Main Street gets most of our hops from. Hops add bitterness to beer, as well as flavor and aroma. They also add anti-bacterial agents which contribute to the beer's long-term stability.
Although new brewers often think bitterness is bad, bitterness in beer is almost a necessity. When malt is fermented out, there is still a very strong residual sweet component. Without hop bitterness, the sweetness of beer would be like syrupy candy. People that are afraid of bitterness need to know that when only a minimal amount of hops are added, the resulting beers may be finish with a thick sweet consistency. More people find this unpleasant than a beer with a slightly bitter finish, from my experiences. Although there are many fine beers with sweet finishes: Scottish and Scotch ales, dopplebocks, some brown ales and some American ambers being some of the most prevalent.
The bitterness of each hop variety is rated by what is called the alpha level. Each variety of hop, each year, is tested for the alpha level. This tells us how bitter that hop is. The scale is linear, meaning that an alpha level of 12 is twice as bitter as an alpha level of 6. This also means that two ounces of a "6" hop is equal to one ounce of a "12" hop. The formula for how much bitterness gets into your beer from your hops (the IBU rating) is fairly complex, but here is a good explanation of hop bitterness and here is a link to an IBU calculator if you really want to plug in the specific numbers and see what you get. Meanwhile, we can help you at the store get the right bitterness into your beer according to personal desire, or style accuracy.
We like to sell fresh hop leaves, and here is my opinion on that, so don't flame me and tell me I am all wrong - it's just my opinion. Here in the Northwest, we live so close to the hop growing region, that there is no reason to shred and pelletize the hops into "rabbit food," damaging their lupulin glands and heating them up from friction. All of our leaf hops are kept constantly refrigerated all the way from the grower's warehouse in Yakima down to my cooler. We vacuum pack our hops in oxygen and light-proof Mylar bags to retain their maximum quality.
It is MUCH easier for me to repackage pellet hops, rather than leaf hops. I can package 5 pounds of pellet hops into 2-ounce bags in less than 30 minutes; it takes me two hours to do the same amount of leaf hops. I sell them for the same price. If I were unscrupulous, I would try to sell more pellet hops because it would make my life in the store much, much easier. Packaging leaf hops is extremely time consuming. I recommend leaf hops because I believe them to be better quality, more natural, as well as having a great filtering effect (for your trub) when you pour them through a strainer. Most of my customers agree, although we do sell five or six varieties of pelletized hops for those that want them. If you ahve only used pellet hops you may want to try leaf hops once and see what you think: many people would never go back.
INTERNET HOP SPECIAL:
We are selling eight 2-ounce bags of domestic hops, mixed or matched, shipped anywhere in the United States, for $34.00. This includes shipping. Just go to our order form, fill out your varieties and submit. We will ship the hops via Priority Two-Day Mail within 48 hours.
** If you find a better local price in the Portland area, we will beat it by 10%. Guaranteed. **
Leaf Hop Varieties
Leaf
Hop Name
Alpha Level for 2010 Harvest
Flavor Profile
Traditional Uses
2010 -2011 Price
Admiral
Alpha 10.1
Newer British bittering/flavor hop bred from Challenger. Has an orange-y, tangerine citrus flavor.
English or American style bitters, pale ales, amber ales or any hoppy style
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $19.95
Amarillo
Alpha 11.2
Spicy, rich flavor with some of that classic Northwest grapefruit/citrus character. This was hybridized from Cascade and can be used anywhere that Cascade can.
American ale ales and IPA's, or any Northwest-style microbrew
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: 19.95
Bravo
Alpha 15.4
Newer American-style bittering hop. Hard to find. Imparts fruity. floral apple and pear essences into beers.
Any hoppy American style, including IPA's, pale ales, stouts, ambers.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $17.50
Cascade
Alpha 8.6
The classic Northwest-style hop, this is our biggest seller. Grapefruit and citrus notes abound and it is responsible for much of the flavor of our Northwest-style microbrew favorites. Use it excessively.
All Northwest or American-style ales.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $15.50
Centennial
Alpha 10.5
A "supercharged" Cascade. This is a strong bittering hop with lots of that intense, grapefruit Cascade citrus flavor.
Northwest or American-style IPA's, pale ales or any hoppy style where "grapefruit" is desired.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: 19.95
Challenger
Alpha 5.6
Classic English bittering and flavoring hop with a spicy flavor profile and a stronger bitterness than most other English hops. Hard to find in the US.
English-style pale ales and bitters, porters, stouts or any hoppy English Ale
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $21.95
Citra
Alpha 13.4
A new 2009 release, previously unavailable. This hop was hybridized by Sierra Nevada and Widmer and has very strong tropical fruit, papaya, mango fruity overtones, Very popular and sought-after.
Northwest or American-style IPA's, pale ales or any hoppy style where strong hoopy flavors are desired
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $21.95
Crystal
Alpha 5.6
Hybridized from Hallertauer, perfumey and flowery, this hop is bred to have little to no bitterness, but lots and lots of strong, intense flowery aroma. This is one of my favorite finishing hops, and will add great aromatics to any of your beers.
Northwest or American-style ales, or any European-style ale or lager.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $19.95
Chinook
Alpha 14.1
This is a piney, evergreen-flavored hop that is classically American. It has almost a resinous quality, even when used as a bittering hop.
West Coast stouts, bitter American microbrew styles.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $15.50
Zeus
also called "Columbus"
Alpha 15.4
One of the new "super-hops," this is an awesome bittering flavoring and aroma hop. It has a rich, full flavor with some citrus notes; this hop can do it all. One of our most popular varieties.
American and Northwest-syle IPA's, any beer you want to have a strong hop quality.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $15.50
Fuggles
Alpha 6.0
A more neutral, mild hop with an earthy, woody quality. Although a classic English aroma hop, I tend to prefer Goldings for aroma, and use Fuggles for flavor and bittering.
Any English-style pale ale, IPA, brown ale, stout or porter. Not recommended for American-styles.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $16.95
Glacier
Alpha 5.7
Newer American-style hop with great aromatic qualities. Citrus balanced with some earthy, woody character. Kind of a mix of Cascade and Willamette.
Any American-style or Northwest-style ale.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $17.50
Goldings
Alpha 5.7
A rich aromatic hop with a great herbal quality. This is a classic, high-quality true English hop. Highly recommended.
Any English-style pale ale, IPA, brown ale, stout or porter. Not recommended for American-styles.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $16.95
(imported)
German
Hallertauer
Mittelfruh
Alpha 4.7
A flowery, perfume-y aromatic German style hop. This is grown in America, which tends to alter the flavor and aroma characteristics away from what they are in Germany. See the Mt Hood variety.
Wheat beers, fruit beers, golden and blonde ales, kolsches, lagers, or any beer where you want a light delicate hop presence.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $17.50
Horizon
---------
Good all-purpose bittering hop has very little harshness or rough edges. Has some aromatic qualities as well.
Hoppy American ales, esp. pales ales and IPA's.
Out for the Season
Magnum
Alpha 17.0
A great bittering hop. This hop is from Germany and has a very low cohumulone level, which gives it a very clean, non-harsh bittering. Not recommended for flavoring or aroma.
Use as a clean bittering hop in any beer. Be careful of overbittering, as this hop has a fairly high alpha level.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $19.95
Mt. Hood
Alpha 5.9
A Hallertauer hybrid. This hop is bred to resemble true German Hallertauer (as opposed to American-grown Hallertauer). It has a strong floral characteristic and can be used in any beer where Hallertauer is called for.
Blondes, goldens, wheat beers, fruit ales, kolsches or lagers. Use in any beer you want a true German hop presence.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $18.95
Northern Brewer
Alpha 9.9
A good, clean bittering hop, but also has a woody, earthy hop flavor and aroma. Not fancy, just a good solid all-purpose hop.
American and Northwest style microbrews, particularly pale ales and stouts.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: 16.95
Nugget
Alpha 12.0
A fairly strong bittering hop. I am not a big fan of the aroma and flavor, but I have seen it used successfully for those purposes many times.
American and Northwest style microbrews, particularly pale ales, IPA's and stouts.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: ----
Palisades
Alpha 8.3
The new kid on the block, this is a high-alpha Tettnanger hybrid. Lots of spicy, floral character and a good clean bitterness. Like many new hops, this is an all-purpose bitter/flavor/aroma hop. Highly recommended.
American and Northwest style pale ales, IPA's or any microbrewed style, as well as kolsches, or any German style hybrids.
unavailable right now
Perle
Alpha 9.3
A Northern Brewer cross, this hop has a more refined flavor and aroma than Northern Brewer and still a good, solid, clean bitterness.
European lagers, kolsches, alt beers, wheat beers or American amber ales.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $18.95
Domestic
Saaz
Alpha 5.1
The spiciest of the hops, Saaz has a very distinctive peppery flavor and almost no citrus character. Used exclusively by Pilsner Urquell, this is considered one of the finest "noble" hops in the world.
Any German or European lager, esp. pilsner. Also German style ales and wheat beers.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $20.50
Simcoe
Alpha 12.7
Another new American "super hop." This has a great floral/spicy mix and a good clean (although strong) bitterness. Highly recommended for American hoppy ales.
American and Northwest style microbrews, particularly pale ales and IPA's, or any beer you want to have strong hoppiness.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $26.95
Imported
German
Spalter
Alpha 5.6
A German "noble" hop, this has less spiciness than Saaz and less floral quality than Hallertauer, but a little of both to make it interesting.
Any German or European lager, esp. pilsner. Also German style ales and wheat beers, or kolsches and alts.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $15.95
Sterling
Alpha 7.9
A Saaz hybrid. This has some of the spiciness of Saaz, but with more bitterness and more floral aromas. Some of my customers like it better than Saaz.
European and German style lagers, German style ales, blondes, goldens, and wheat beers.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $16.95
Domestic Styrian Goldings
---------
"These are available in pellet hops right now - see table below"
-----
------
Summit
---------
The newest of the hops we carry. This is a monster hop. The bitterness is very strong, almost tannic and the aroma is intense. It fills the store with hop perfume anytime I open a bag. Some hop scientist did good with this clone. I don't know much about its origins, but it promises to be one for the future.
American style pale ales and IPA's or any beer where you want to maximize the hoppiness and bitterness.
Out for the season
Target
Coming Soon
Classic English hop, bred from Goldings and Northern Brewer. Has an herbal, mineral, grassy character. Used often as a bittering hop, but has a nice aromatic character.
Any English-style pale ale, IPA or brown ale. Can also be used in Belgian styles.
Coming Soon!!
Domestic
Tettnanger
Alpha 5.3
Another classic "noble" variety, this has some of the spiciness of Saaz and some of the floweriness of Hallertauer, but it seems - to me - to be more neutral and non-intrusive of a hop.
German style ales and lagers, European lagers, wheat beers, blondes, goldens, or any beer you want a soft but noticeable hop balance.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $15.50
Imported
German
Tradition
Alpha 6.5
Bred as a Hallertauer replacement, this hop has slightly more bitterness than its parent, but with the same flowery refined aroma and flavor as true Hallertauer. Use as you would Hallertauer, but in beers where you want slighlty more hop intensity.
German style ales and lagers, European lagers, alt beers, kolsch styles, wheat beers.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $15.50
Willamette
Alpha 5.2
A Fuggles hybrid. This has a neutral woody character and is fairly gentle and non-intrusive. I tend to recommend it for beers where strong hoppiness is not desirable. It has a good clean bitterness.
Any English-style beer (porter, stout, brown ale, pale ale) or any malty amber ale.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $14.95
Pellet Hop Varieties
Pellet
Hop Name
Alpha Levels
for 2010
harvest
Flavor Profile
Traditional Uses
2010 - 2011 Price
Amarillo
Alpha 6.9
Spicy, rich flavor with some of that classic Northwest grapefruit/citrus character. This was hybridized from Cascade and can be used anywhere that Cascade can.
American ale ales and IPA's, or any Northwest-style microbrew
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $17.50
Cascade
Alpha 5.4
The classic Northwest-style hop, this is our biggest seller. Grapefruit and citrus notes abound and it is responsible for much of the flavor of our Northwest-style microbrew favorites. Use it excessively.
All Northwest or American-style ales.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $15.50
Centennial
Alpha 8.8
A "supercharged" Cascade. This is a strong bittering hop with lots of that intense, grapefruit Cascade citrus flavor.
Northwest or American-style IPA's, pale ales or any hoppy style where "grapefruit" is desired.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $17.50
Columbus (also know as Zeus)
Alpha 14.5
One of the newer "super-hops," this is an awesome bittering flavoring and aroma hop. It has a rich, full flavor with some citrus notes; this hop can do it all. One of our most popular varieties.
American and Northwest-syle IPA's, any beer you want to have a strong hop quality.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $15.50
Imported
British
First Gold
Alpha 9.5
A great unusual hop variety described as having a rich citrus character with more tangerine and orange character than grapefruit. Many people also notice hints of apricot. Highly recommended.
Use in fruity bitters, pale ales and IPA's, blondes, summer ales, wit beers, wheat ales or Christmas/Holiday Ales.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $19.95
imported
British
East Kent Goldings
Alpha 4.7
A rich aromatic hop with a great herbal quality. This is a classic, high-quality true English hop. Highly recommended.
Any English-style pale ale, IPA, brown ale, stout or porter. Not recommended for American-styles.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $22.50
imported
German
Hallertauer Mittelfruh
Alpha 3.9
A flowery, perfume-y aromatic German style hop. This is grown in America, which tends to alter the flavor and aroma characteristics away from what they are in Germany. See the Mt Hood variety.
Wheat beers, fruit beers, golden and blonde ales, kolsches, lagers, or any beer where you want a light delicate hop presence.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $17.50
Magnum
Alpha 10.0
A great bittering hop. This hop is from Germany and has a very low cohumulone level, which gives it a very clean, non-harsh bittering. Not recommended for flavoring or aroma.
Use as a clean bittering hop in any beer. Be careful of overbittering, as this hop has a fairly high alpha level.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $17.95
Imported
New Zealand
(organic)
Pacific gem
Alpha 16.3
A high-alpha hop with a pleasant citrus aroma - some brewers also note hints of blackberries in the flavor and aroma.
English and American bitters, English and American stouts and porters, IPA's, any hoppy ale or lager.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $29.95
imported
German
Saphir
Alpha 3.7
Sweet, mild hop with a hint of citrus and tangerine. Bred from Hallertauer Mittelfruh, so it retains lots of the flowery aromatics of the parent.
Fruit ales, Blondes, Goldens, German lagers, pilsners, Belgian ales, and specifically Belgian White (Wit) Beers.
2 ounce bag: $3.95
1 Pound: $19.95
imported
French
Strisselspalt
Alpha 2.5
French hop from the Alsace region. Comparable to Hallertauer, these are very low alpha (bitterness) with a perfumey fruity aroma sometimes described as "currants."
Any German or Belgian ale, or blonde, golden or fruit beer. Would be perfect in a Biere de Garde.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: $17.50
imported
Yugoslavian
Styrian Goldings
Alpha 5.2
These are Yugoslavian Fuggles, but they have more of the resiny herbal flavor of Goldings than the woodiness of Fuggles. Old-school awesome all-purpose hop.
Any Belgian ale, or English style ale.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: ------
domestic
Tettnanger
Alpha 3.9
Another classic "noble" variety, this has some of the spiciness of Saaz and some of the floweriness of Hallertauer, but it seems - to me - to be more neutral and non-intrusive of a hop.
German style ales and lagers, European lagers, wheat beers, blondes, goldens, or any beer you want a soft but noticeable hop balance.
2-ounce bag: $3.95
1 pound: -------
Here is a link to some more descriptions of the New Zealand hops we recently acquired. Be aware, we do not have all of the hop varieties listed on this external web site, but they do have good descriptions of some our new imported hops.
NEW ZEALAND HOPS
Name of Hop
Alpha Level for last known
Harvest
Flavor Profile
Typical Usage
Price
Styrian Goldings
Alpha 2.9
Classic Old World aroma hop. Exhibits clean lager bitterness and spicy complex aroma.
Belgian styles, European lagers, pale ales and IPA's.
temporarily unavailable
Sticklebract
Alpha 14.1
High-alpha all-purpose hop. Very low cohumulone levels, and very aromatic. Retains some woody character from its Fuggles parent.
West Coast stouts, hoppy porters, IPA's, pale ales, or any hoppy ale
temporarily unavailable
Super Alpha
Alpha 13.3
Low resin, all purpose hop with notes of lemongrass.
IPA's pale ales, hoppy wheat beers
temporarily unavailable
Riwaka
Alpha 6.5
Citrusy, resiny and grapefruity, classic NW-style hop grown in New Zealand.
Any NW style ale: wheat beers, ambers, pale ales, porters, etc.
temporarily unavailable
Pacific Hallertauer
Alpha 5.3
Citrusy without the pine/resin character of our NW hops.. Great orange and tangerine notes. Very aromatic.
Wheat beers in particular, or any hoppy NW style
temporarily unavailable
Hallertauer Aroma
Alpha 9.1
Super Hallertauer. Lots of flowery aroma with a touch of lime, and a high alpha level to boot.
Wheat beers, hoppy lagers, kolsches, alt beers.
temporarily unavailable
Green Bullet
Alpha 13.2
Good solid bittering hop with no harshness, herbal edginess or rough flavors.
IPA's, pale ales, West Coast stouts.
temporarily unavailable
NZ Goldings
Alpha 3.7
Classic Goldings herbal characteristics, very much like the original Kent Goldings from England.
Any and all English-style ales. Classic English flavor hop.
temporarily unavailable
Motueka (organic)
Alpha x.x
Saaz hybrid, with a higher alpha. Classic spicy Saaz flavor with notes of lemons, limes and tropical fruits.
Belgian ales, European lagers, wheat beers, German-style ales and lager (kolsches in particular).
Hops are the green flowery cones of a long vine, Humulus lupulus. Most of the hops used in the United States are grown in the Oregon/Washington region, with the majority of them coming from the Yakima Valley of Washington. This is where Main Street gets most of our hops from. Hops add bitterness to beer, as well as flavor and aroma. They also add anti-bacterial agents which contribute to the beer's long-term stability.