Interest Continues to Brew for Hops Grown Fresh From Florida
October 20, 2021 
Folks interested on what’s happening in the world of Florida hops gathered during a field day event at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Balm. Local craft brewers are favoring home-grown ‘Cascade’ hops for their unique aroma and taste thanks to Florida’s environmental conditions.
Photo courtesy of UF/IFAS
Have you tried a beer crafted with Florida hops lately? If so, one might say it tastes a bit bitter; but local researchers and brewers say that’s just what they want.
Earlier this week, University of Florida scientists showed off the latest research results from their studies on hops during a field day event held at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Balm. Craft beer connoisseurs want to know about taste and aroma, and UF/IFAS researchers see an increase in alpha acid in the hops they grow. That acid indicates bitterness.
“Brewers need to know the alpha acid content of hops to determine how much hops to use, according to the bitterness level they like to achieve, says Shinsuke Agehara, a UF/IFAS Assistant Professor of horticultural sciences. “Brewers also need to know the essential oil content and profile to create desirable aroma intensity and profile in the beer. Hops quality data are important for brewers to formulate a recipe, including how much hops to use, blending with other varieties of hops, boiling time, and when to add hops during the brewing process.”
UF/IFAS research colleague Zhanao Deng also grows hops at the GCREC. He has been testing 22 hops varieties in hopes they can successfully grow in Florida. Deng has identified new types of ‘Cascade’ that can produce larger, heavier cones with stronger aroma than common ‘Cascade,’ one of the top varieties often used by brewers.
Agehara points out that brewers in the Tampa Bay area like what they taste in beer made from ‘Cascade’ hops.
“The pale ale brewed with ‘Cascade’ hops harvested from our hopyard has unique flavors,” Agehara says. “Typically, ‘Cascade’ is known to have a classic citrus aroma, but the beer brewed with our ‘Cascade’ had notes of cantaloupe and honeydew with a hint of ripe citrus.”
Three other varieties, ‘Comet,’ ‘Nugget’, and ‘Zeus,’ have produced hops cones with higher alpha acids, higher essential oil contents and strong aroma. These varieties might be good candidates for further larger-scale testing, Deng adds.
According to stats from the Brewers Association, Florida has 368 craft breweries. That figure has grown exponentially in less than a decade time. Growing interest in craft beer spurred the Hillsborough County Economic Development Council to seek a partnership with the GCREC about six years ago.
“Craft beers are well-known for their diverse styles and flavors, which is also one of the main attributes that attracts consumers,” Deng says. “Brewers use multiple hops varieties to create unique beer flavors.”
For more on the topic, visit UF/IFAS hops-growing project on Facebook.