306: Celebrated Hop Breeder Ron Beatson Discusses the Unique Characteristics of New Zealand Hops

New Zealand’s climate, latitude, and singular terroir offers the right environment for hops of unique expression, but it’s their longstanding breeding program that has made possible so many of the signatures aromas and flavors we’ve grown to love. Ron Beatson of NZ Hops is the plant geneticist behind many of these beloved varieties, and on this episode recorded at the Craft Brewers Conference, he discusses the complex genetics and processes behind developing hops like Nelson Sauvin, Riwaka, Nectarine, Superdelic, and more.

Beatson covers:

• The impact of triploid genetics
• The evolution of hop breeding with a focus on aroma and flavor
• Using a California-grown Late Cluster parent for many popular crosses
• Effects of terroir on popular New Zealand hop varieties
• Developing new cultivars for early and late season harvest
• Impacts of high UV energy on New Zealand hop crops

And more.

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