5 Hop Varieties We're Stoked About for 2025

Hey brewers! Ready to get your hands on some killer hops for your 2025 brews? We're right there with you, always on the hunt for the next big thing in hop flavor and aroma. After checking out the fields and talking to growers, we've got five varieties that have us seriously pumped. These aren't just your run-of-the-mill hops; they're bringing some serious game-changing potential to the table.

NY Vista: A Versatile and Promising Hop Variety

NY Vista, formerly known as USDA EXP-074, is a triploid hop selection developed by the USDA's OSU breeding program in Corvallis, Oregon. Released in 2021 after extensive field trials across the United States, Vista has shown adaptability in diverse growing regions, including the Pacific Northwest, New York, Vermont, and the Midwest.

This variety demonstrates strong agronomic characteristics, particularly in New York State. Vista's growth habit, cone production, and tolerance to varying environmental conditions contribute to its versatility for growers.

In terms of flavor and aroma, Vista presents a tropical profile with notes of papaya, honeydew melon, peach, and occasional hints of mint. Its compatibility with other fruity hop varieties makes it a potential blending component. The hop's moderate co-humulone and alpha acid levels also allow for its use in hot-side additions.

The current crop has garnered positive feedback from brewers, and Vista's performance in recent beers has been noteworthy. With increasing emphasis on sustainable practices, Vista's agronomic strengths are a significant advantage. While comparisons to other varieties like Tango exist, NY Vista has consistently displayed high oil, aroma, and flavor levels. This is attributed to the efforts of local Guild Growers, including Crooked Creek Hops, Koester Hops, and Pedersen Farms, who have contributed to the quality of the NY Vista crop.

WCHB-102 (2B): A Promising New Experimental Hop from West Coast Hop Breeding

Brewers, we've got a new experimental hop to share with you: WCHB-102, also known as 2B. This variety comes from the team at West Coast Hop Breeding in Oregon, and they're focusing on sustainable breeding practices, which is something we're always keen to see.

102 is a late-maturing hop with good yield potential and solid disease resistance. It's designed to be agronomically sound, which is a plus for growers.

Flavor-wise, WCHB-102 offers a clean, sweet citrus profile. You'll also find distinct apple and pear aromas, along with notes of lime zest, melon, and pine resin. It's a hop that brings a good level of complexity to the table, and it can be used either on its own or in combination with other varieties.

We've also noticed that its very low co-humulone levels make it a useful hop for bittering, or partial bittering, with minimal impact on perceived bitterness. This could be useful for adding depth to your beers without overpowering the flavor profile.

Essentially, WCHB-102 (2B) is a hop that's generating a lot of interest. The aroma profile is approachable and complex, and it's definitely worth exploring if you're looking for something new. We've been impressed with its potential, and it's been hard to find someone who isn't interested in trying it out.

German Tettnanger: A Classic Noble Hop with Renewed Interest

Tettnanger is a traditional Noble hop variety, originating from the Saazer class. It's primarily cultivated in the region around Tettnang, near Lake Constance in Germany. The unique combination of the local climate and the sandy clay soils contributes to its distinctive aroma profile. This variety also exhibits good disease tolerance.

Tettnanger is commonly used in lager beer styles, particularly Pilsners, for which it is considered well-suited. Its lineage traces back to a traditional German landrace variety. Recently, it has been gaining recognition as a valuable hop for Pilsner brewing.

The aroma of Tettnanger is often described as floral, spicy, fruity, and hoppy. We appreciate the blend of cedar, tobacco, and stone fruit-like characteristics found in our selections from grower Locher Hopfen.

Tettnanger has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Our partner grower, Locher Hopfen, consistently produces high-quality Tettnanger, and we believe our selections reflect that. With the current interest in fine Pilsners, we are particularly enthusiastic about this hop variety.

Zumo: A Citrus-Forward Hop from Segal Ranch

Zumo is a newer hop variety developed by Segal Ranch, located in Grandview, Washington, within the lower Yakima Valley. The name "Zumo" translates to "The Zest of Limes and Lemons" in Spanish, which accurately reflects its primary aroma characteristics.

This hop is characterized by a strong citrus profile, with notes of lime and lemon zest, and subtle hints of orange. Zumo is intended to complement other citrus-forward hops or to enhance existing recipes that require additional citrus or lime nuances.

Initially, we were cautiously optimistic about Zumo. While its dry aroma was acceptable, we found its true potential emerged in beer. Zumo demonstrates its value when used in conjunction with other citrus-focused hops, creating a unique flavor profile. It effectively amplifies and adds depth to citrus flavors, offering a distinct characteristic not readily found in other currently available hops.

GERMAN Tango: A Versatile German Hop with Dual-Purpose Potential

Tango, originally designated as 2011/02/04, is a newer German hop variety bred at the Hüll Institute. It is a descendant of Cascade and a male Hüll breeding line. Tango exhibits favorable agronomic characteristics, including resistance to Powdery Mildew and high resistance to hop Downy Mildew. Its robust growth, high yield, and drought tolerance make it a promising variety for growers. Released in 2020, Tango is recognized in Germany for its distinct flavor profile.

We find Tango to be a notable dual-purpose hop, capable of contributing effectively to a range of beer styles. Unlike many hops that are primarily suited for either bittering or aroma, Tango demonstrates versatility in both hot-side and cold-side applications. When used for dry hopping or in cold-side additions, Tango imparts a fruity aroma with notes of passion fruit, citrus, and pineapple, thanks to its high oil potential.

Conversely, when used in hot-side additions, Tango's fruity characteristics are diminished, revealing a more balanced, noble aroma and flavor profile reminiscent of Hallertau Tradition and Perle. This makes it suitable for lager styles such as Export/Dortmunder, Helles, Kölsch, and Pils.

We are particularly interested in Tango's potential for efficiency within brewery operations. As the craft brewing industry evolves, optimization is increasingly important. Tango's ability to function as both a fruity aroma hop and a noble-like bittering hop allows brewers to utilize a single variety across multiple beer styles. Furthermore, its affordability and the economic sustainability it offers to our Guild Growers contribute to its overall value. Thus, Tang

Ready to Get Your Hands on These Hops?

You can find them on THE GUILD SHOP. These varieties are going to be in high demand, so don't miss out. We can't wait to see (and taste!) what you brew with them.