Researchers at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) are on a mission to grow a hop plant that can thrive in B.C.’s climate and brew great-tasting beer.
The research takes place at the Applied Genomics Centre at KPU and is part of the NextGen Hops hop breeding program, which began in 2018 in partnership with Green Flora Greenhouses and local hops producers.
NextGen Hops is a traditional plant breeding program that uses DNA analysis and chemical techniques to accelerate the variety development process.
“The purpose of the experimental hop program is to make new flavours and provide new ingredients brewers can use to innovate on beer and use locally developed hops in their beer offerings that’s of value to southwestern B.C. farmers and brewers,” says Dr. Mathias Schuetz, KPU Biology instructor.
Hops are the female flowers of the plant species humulus lupulus that are used to provide flavour and aromas to beer while also functioning as a natural preservative.
The hop Schuetz is experimenting with is a cross with a cascade plant which is used to make IPA’s.
“The way it works is we make crosses; we develop hop plants and we evaluate it in the field. If the hop plant looks promising in the field, we multiply it via cloning and give it to commercial growers to grow,” says Schuetz.
This particular cross gives a citrus aroma which Schuetz says is unique from other hops.
This variety has only 20 plants in the field, providing a small hops harvest to experiment with in brewing.
That's where the KPU Brew Lab comes in — the university's teaching brewery located at the Langley campus. It’s here where students in the Diploma in Brewing and Brewery Operations program get hands-on learning. It’s also where KPU researchers can effectively evaluate experimental hops varieties thanks to state-of-the-art equipment capable of brewing high-quality beer using only a small amount of hops.
The goal of the research is to increase production and establish a signature B.C. hop.
“What has happened recently is we don’t really have a made-in-B.C. hop that really grows well for our climate. The hops we have were developed elsewhere so to have a local supply chain where we are growing local hops will benefit the B.C. beer industry.”