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(Courtesy Heavy Seas Brewing)
When one thinks of hops grown in the US, the Pacific Nothwest immediately comes to mind. That’s where conditions are perfect, the right latitude, warm days and cool nights, it’s a hop grower’s paradise.
But that may be changing. Say hello to the Monocacy hop, a unique species native to Maryland that was discovered by Dr. Ray Edigar in the late 1960s. That’s right, a rare East Coast hop with brewing potential.
For years, the Monocacy hop’s Maryland lineage went unnoticed until research by the University of Maryland Extension explored its interesting genetic characteristics. Uniquely suited to Maryland’s humid conditions, this hop boasts a one-of-a-kind chemical profile.
“From what we can tell so far, the Monocacy hop grows very well in Maryland. Our hope is to continue growing it, share it with more local brewers, while we continue testing its commercial viability,” says Bryan Butler, principal agent in agriculture and natural resources with the University of Maryland Extension. “It will be critical to see if the Monocacy hop can not only thrive but excel in crafting outstanding beers.”
(Courtesy Heavy Seas Brewing)
In September the Heavy Seas Brewing crew trekked out to the Western Maryland Research & Education Center to observe the Monocacy hop harvesting. Immediately after being picked, the hops were taken to their Halethorpe brewery for processing.
Chris Leonard, Brewmaster at Heavy Seas, highlighted the hop’s notes as “spicy, herbaceous, and floral.” For its first beer using the local hop, Chris Leonard, Brewmaster at Heavy Seas went with an Altbier, a traditional German beer, that accentuated the hop’s spicy, herbaceous, and floral qualities.
On October 20th the Baltimore-based brewer debuted “Altimore” at its small-batch taproom, the first craft beer ever that’s been brewed using the native hop.
And “Altimore” may only be the beginning of many Heavy Seas’ beers brewed using this unique native hop.
“We’re excited to see what else we can create. “We plan to explore different beer styles and utilize the Monocacy hop in different stages of the production to test how it can be best employed,” Leonard added. “We’re excited to see what else we can create.”
