McKenzie Hop; New Proprietary Oregon Hop Variety

McKenzie™ hops are the first variety to be released by the West Coast Hop Breeding Company out of Oregon first trialed as C-148. West Coast Hop Breeding is a network of 6 Oregon hop farmers that have teamed up to develop new hop varieties for the increasingly competitive private cultivar market. Currently, hop breeding and development is dominated by Washington’s Yakima Valley farmers with New Zealand companies like NZ Hops also making a big play in creating influential hops. WCGH established itself in 2016 with plans to focus on varieties that will thrive in Oregon’s unique soil and climate growing conditions.

McKenzie™ was bred over a 5 year process to be grown in Oregon and highlight the unique terroir. Lead breeder Pat Leavy grew up fishing the McKenzie River and came up with the name for the "bright and fruity" hop with grapefruit, lemon, nectarine, and melon aromas that is backed by pine, resin, and wood.

McKenzie™ has shown great agronomics and has a great aroma profile that makes it perfect for West Coast IPA and Pale Ales with modern stone fruit, tropical, sweet tart and dank flavors/aromas paired with the traditional piney notes of the pacific northwest.

McKenzie™ Aroma: Grapefruit, lemon, nectarine, melon, pine resin, thyme.

McKenzie™ Typical Analytical Range

Alpha: 9-11%

Beta: 8-9%

Total Oil: 2.0-3.0 mL/100g

2021 is the first crop year for McKenzie™ hops.