Strata Hops Pellets

Strata, formally known as X-331, is Indie Hops’ first hop variety to be released out of our breeding program. Born in 2009, Strata is the progeny of an open-pollinated Perle located at an Oregon State University experimental field in Corvallis, Oregon. From the get-go, this hop was out to impress. Between its strong disease resistance, vigorous growing habit, and complex layers of aroma, x331 rose to the top.

Brewing Application: An IPA/Session-IPA/Pale Ale (and believe it or don’t, lager hop) with many layers of different fruit flavor, dried and fresh, anchored with a dried chili-cannabis-funk that does not have any diesel, machine oil, or catty ‘baggage’. Late hot side additions bring out layers of rounded-tropical plus bright-fresh fruit flavors; dry-hopping yields more grapefruit and cannabis. Nice with roasted malts too.

• Flavor Profile: Tropical Fruit, Grapefruit, Cannabis, Dank, Passion Fruit, Strawberry
• Beer Style Recommendations: Hazy IPA, IPAs, Pale Ale, Session IPA
• Usage: Aroma, Late Kettle Addition, Dry Hop

Strata Hop Statistics:

• Alpha Acid: 11 - 12.5%
• Beta Acid: 5 - 6%
• Cohumulone: 21%
  
• Total Oil mL/100 g: 2.3 - 3.5
  
• Myrcene: 52 - 65%
  
• Humulene: 22 - 30%
  
• Caryophyllene: 5 - 12.5%
  
• Farnesene: <1%
  

Breeding & Development

It started in 2009 with the launch of Indie Hops breeding program. Tens of thousands of new hop genotypes have run the gauntlet, yet just one made the cut for commercial trials by 2016. It’s not for lack of effort! Dr. Shaun Townsend of OSU has been prolific with breeding crosses, and tireless in the growing and evaluation of the plants. A parade of OSU undergraduate and graduate students have worked in the program, Indie Hops two primary farm partners have supported farm trials, and their staff at the Portland headquarters have dry rubbed…dry hopped…and pilot brewed over a thousand finalists looking for that rare gem. One new genotype, Strata, was launched for full commercial release from the 2018 harvest. Nine years….and that’s fast in the hop breeding world!

About Indie Hops:

Co-founders Roger Worthington and Jim Solberg got together over beers in October 2008 and decided to explore opportunities for Oregon-grown hops in the craft beer market. They built Oregon’s first post-farm hop processing facility (pellet milling/packaging/cold storage) and talked some excellent hop growers into growing a range of hops. Game on!

They intentionally had their mill designed for smaller batch processing than the industry norm to avoid excessive heating of the hops in order to maintain “farm fresh” quality in their pellets. To round out our strategy they started the Indie Hops Development Project, to ensure that an Oregon-based breeding and sensory effort was focused on the craft marketplace. 

This is a long-term endeavor and Indie Hops wants to do their part to arm brewers with hops that hook consumers!