Beer Explorer

For the craft beer lover who wants to go deeper in understanding the various types of hops used in the beer he loves, or for the one who wants to know which hops to get in order to brew that beer at home, we have created these profiles of the main hops used to brew craft beer. We hope it will help as you make delicious beer at home. If you are a parent especially, you know that it may be easier to enjoy your favorite beer at home than to venture out on the town. So, towards this end, what are Cascade hops, what’s their history, and how are they unique?

Cascade hops are like the rock stars of the hop world, especially in the American craft beer scene. Born and bred in the USA, these hops strut onto the stage with their heads held high, boasting floral, citrus, and oh-so-zesty grapefruit aromas that make beer drinkers sit up and take notice. They’re the cool kids that turned American pale ales and IPAs into the life of the party.

A Star Is Born

Back in 1972, the USDA hop breeding program in Oregon decided it was time for something fresh and zesty. They played matchmaker between a Fuggle hop plant (very earthy, very British) and a male plant rocking genes from the Russian Serebrianka hop. The result? The Cascade hop, a mildew-resistant, aroma-packed bundle of joy.

Flavor Profile: Rocking the Hop World

• On the Nose: Imagine diving into a sea of floral bouquets, with a citrus lifebuoy around your waist and a grapefruit in each hand. That’s the Cascade hop aroma – a refreshing splash of brightness in every sip.
• The Bitterness Riff: With alpha acid tunes ranging from 4.5% to 7.0%, Cascade hops can rock a smooth bitter riff without overpowering the melody. They’re the perfect lead guitar, setting the tempo for a balanced beer performance.
• Genre Versatility: While they may have headlined with American pale ales and IPAs, Cascade hops are no one-trick ponies. They’ve jazzed up blond ales, added a twist to wheat ales, and even brought a fresh vibe to stouts and porters looking to break the mold.

The Signature Move

Introducing Cascade hops to the brewing stage was like dropping a citrus bomb on the beer world. Before these hops made their debut, American beers were often wallflowers at the hop flavor dance, shyly borrowing moves from their European cousins. But with Cascade, American brewers got a signature move that shouted, “This is what American craft beer tastes like!”

Cascade hops helped brew the American Pale Ale (APA) into stardom, a style that balances those show-stopping floral and citrus notes with just the right touch of bitterness. They became the emblem of the craft beer revolution, pushing the boundaries of beer flavors and making the world take note of American innovation and flair.

So, when you crack open a beer that sings with the flavors of Cascade hops, you’re not just enjoying a drink; you’re tasting a piece of American brewing history. A history that’s bold, bright, and refuses to blend into the background. Cheers to the Cascade hop, the rebel of the hop world, making every sip a statement.