We love the smell of hops in the morning!

Right now, we’re in the midst of one of our favorite seasons – hop harvest! Each year, as those precious green cones mature, we send a team to the Pacific Northwest for one of the most critical steps in the brewing process: hop selection. Keeping a beer like Perpetual IPA consistent and nailing next year’s batches of Nugget Nectar, Nimble Giant and other hoppy favorites all starts in the hop fields.

“We go to the Yakima Valley every year to make sure we get the right hops,” says brewmaster John Trogner. “To me, it’s the most important ingredient selection we do. We have so many hop-forward beers, so the stakes are high.”

But we’re not only looking for the perfect Citra to make Perpetual shine, or piney Chinook to give Blizzard of Hops its signature notes of spruce tips. We’re also on the lookout for new hops and flavor combinations that might inspire us, unlocking that “a-ha” moment when a new recipe starts taking shape. And as we explore the fields, we start thinking more and more about how to get all of these unique flavors we experience into our beers. It’s not only hop varieties, but also hopping techniques and yeast management that factor into the equation. Now that’s some math that we’re willing to do here at Tröegs!

Though the sun sets each day in Yakima, the hops don’t sleep. Each variety has their own window for picking – when the cones have matured to the optimal aroma and flavors. So for the six-week harvest season, most farms work around the clock. How’s that for dedication?

But while the hops themselves play a pivotal role in so many of our beers, it’s our hop-growing partners that are the unsung heroes. It’s through their knowledge and passion for hops that our beers truly shine. Because our adventure to Yakima is more than just getting the hops; it’s walking the fields with these farmers, building relationships and, in the end, getting the right hops from the right people.

Being independent means we can do what’s right for us and what’s right for our beer… and that’s sourcing the best ingredients we can find on our perpetual quest for delicious flavors!