Mt. Hood, a New American Noble Aroma Hop¹

1 Presented at the 55th Annual Meeting, Denver CO, April 1989. Contribution of the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, in cooperation with the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. Technical Paper 9107.

Abstract

Mt. Hood, a triploid, naturally seedless aroma hop, was selected from a cross between the tetraploid Hallertauer mittelfrüh and an aroma-type male made at Corvallis, OR, in 1983. Mt. Hood was initially tested in Oregon nursery plots and subsequently in 3-acre commercial plots in the major U.S. hop growing areas of the Pacific Northwest. It closely resembles imported European aroma hops, and particularly Hersbrucker, in major quality traits but produces higher cone yields. Experienced brewery taste panels familiar with imported aroma hops have judged Mt. Hood to be similar to such imports. This similarity was also confirmed by pilot plant and commercial brewing trials. About 50 acres of Mt. Hood were planted in 1989 following its release for commercial production. As this acreage expands, increased quantities of baled cones will become available to interested customers at home and abroad.