It is autumn in the southern hemisphere which means it is harvest time for hops south of the equator. This episode of the All About Beer Podcast is all about New Zealand Hops. Don Tse and Em Sauter chat with Brent McGlashen of Mac Hops and Ron Beatson of NZ Hops.
Today, New Zealand hops are known for their tropical, fruity flavors, but it wasn’t always that way. The McGlashen family itself has been growing hops for five generations and have watched New Zealand hops evolve from a commodity crop that was profitable based purely on maximum output, to the specialized, premium product it is today, highly sought by craft brewers around the world.
Much of that change is the result of hops breeding, which has improved the agronomics of hops, but also taken advantage of New Zealand’s unique soil and climate. Beatson is such a legendary hop breeder, they named a hop after him – Nectaron, but he is also responsible for breeding such legendary hops as Nelson Sauvin, Motueka and Riwaka. Beatson discusses what makes New Zealand hops unique.
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