This seminar educates brewers on several practical alternative methods to traditional hop selection with a focus on quality improvements. Here, traditional hop selection refers to the selection of a single lot or multiple lots of whole leaf cone at a minimum contract quantity. We discuss why some form of selection is an essential brewery tool, the advantages and disadvantages of different options, how to diversify and mitigate risk, how to build systems for success, and how to communicate with suppliers to strengthen partner relationships.

Learning Objectives

Recognize why choosing between different lots of hops is important to the quality of your beerGet to know the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of selection, including whole leaf, pellet, lot samples, and lot trialsUnderstand the entire supply chain and learn how to gather information at each levelDiscuss how to build systems for selection, including target sensory profiles and relevant data trackingLearn how to validate your selections, make adjustments, and learn from your mistakes