There's something pretty special about being able to look out across the Nelson region and see hop gardens stretching toward the mountains, knowing that what grows in our backyard has become the secret ingredient in award-winning beers around the globe. As a New Zealand company, we're incredibly proud of our hop industry – it's a story of Kiwi ingenuity, agricultural excellence, and flavours that you simply can't find anywhere else on Earth.
How It All Started: Settlers and Seeds
Our hop story begins with the brave souls who made New Zealand home in the early 19th century. Southern English and German settlers didn't just bring their belongings – they brought hop rhizomes, carefully transported from their homeland's hop gardens. Varieties like Fuggle, Golding, and Spalt made that epic journey across the oceans, establishing the foundation of what would become one of the world's most distinctive hop-growing regions.
These weren't just any varieties – they were the backbone of European brewing, tried and tested over centuries. Our early hop growers were essentially transplanting European brewing heritage into New Zealand soil, creating the first chapter of our unique hop story.
World War One: The Catalyst for Change
Everything changed with the outbreak of World War One. Suddenly, imports became unreliable, and our hop growers faced a critical challenge. They needed a variety that could grow quickly, economically, and reliably. The solution came from California – the 'Cluster' variety offered exactly what was needed during those uncertain times.
The Cluster variety didn't just fill a gap; it dominated. Within a few short years, it became the most common choice for new plantings right across the country. Our hop industry had found its wartime saviour, but as history would prove, this success came with hidden dangers.
Crisis and Innovation: The Root Rot Disaster
By 1940, our hop industry faced its greatest challenge yet. The very variety that had saved us during the war was now threatening our survival. Black root rot (Phytophthora cactorum) swept through Cluster-dominated hop gardens like wildfire, destroying entire crops and leaving growers facing potential ruin.
This is where the Kiwi spirit really shone through. Instead of accepting defeat, our hop breeders rolled up their sleeves and got creative. They went back to those original European varieties – particularly the resilient Fuggle – and began an ambitious breeding programme that would change everything.
Kiwi Ingenuity Creates the Future
The solution was pure New Zealand innovation. By crossing the disease-resistant Fuggle with the vigorous Cluster and other promising selections, our breeders created three groundbreaking varieties: First Choice, Smooth Cone, and Calicross. These weren't just disease-resistant; they were purpose-built for New Zealand conditions, selected for yield, alpha acid content, maturity timing, and machine harvesting compatibility.
This breeding programme established the foundation for everything that followed – the modern New Zealand hop industry built on innovation, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to quality.
The Nelson Advantage: Our Natural Hop Paradise
Today, the heart of our hop industry beats in the Nelson region of the South Island, and there's good reason for that. This area provides what can only be described as hop paradise – ideal sunshine hours, perfect rainfall patterns, and soil composition that creates hops with unmistakable character.
You can actually see wild hops growing along the roadside from Murchison to Motueka – that's how perfectly our landscape suits hop cultivation. The maritime climate, combined with our unique terroir, produces hops that carry the signature of their homeland in every cone.
Understanding Our Growing Advantages
Our latitude of 41-42° South places us bang in the middle of the global hop-growing sweet spot between 30° and 52°. Our hops receive the 15 hours of daily sunlight they crave, enjoy 120 frost-free growing days, and get the essential six to eight weeks below 10°C for proper winter dormancy. It's like our climate was designed specifically for growing exceptional hops.
Celebrating Our Hop Varieties
Each variety we've developed tells a story of innovation and excellence. From the wine-like elegance of Nelson Sauvin to the tropical intensity of Riwaka, these are hops that have put New Zealand firmly on the global brewing map. They're not just ingredients – they're expressions of our land, our climate, and our commitment to excellence.
Our Complete Hop Variety Collection:
| Variety | Flavour and Aroma | Organic | Alpha Acid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motueka™ | Intense fresh lime followed by a background of tropical fruit and lemon zest | X | 6.5-7.5% |
| Pacifica™ | A fine aroma hop with its own signature citrus "orange zest" marmalade character | 5.0-6.0% | |
| Riwaka™ | A unique aroma hop with a powerfully fuelled tropical "passion fruit" character | 4.5-6.5% | |
| Wakatu™ | A really fine dual purpose hop with a heady mix of floral and citrus characteristics | X | 6.5-8.5% |
| Nelson Sauvin™ | Nelson Sauvin has the unique ability to impart a distinctive cool climate white wine "fruitiness" | X | 12-13% |
| Green Bullet™ | A dual purpose / bittering hop with a spicy "dried fruit" character and solid finish | 11-14% | |
| Pacific Gem™ | Described as producing oaken flavours with a distinct blackberry aroma | X | 13-15% |
| NZ Pacific Jade™ | A soft bittering / dual purpose hop with fresh citrus and complex spice characters | 12-14% | |
| Dr Rudi | A dual purpose / bittering hop with classic resinous pine and lifted citrus characters | 10-12% | |
| NZ Southern Cross™ | A dual purpose / soft bittering hop with a citrus "lemon zest" character with hints of pine | 11-14% | |
| Kohatu™ | A dual purpose hop with fresh tropical fruit characters and excellent finish and bitterness | 6.0-7.0% | |
| Rakau™ | A true dual purpose hops with stone fruit and fig characters and excellent bittering qualities | X | 10.0-11.0% |
| Sticklebract | An heirloom alpha hop that delivers solid bitterness matched to pine and citrus aroma | 12.30% | |
| Wai-iti™ | A fine aroma hop with fresh peaches and apricot character | X | 2.5-3.5% |
| Waimea™ | A big alpha hop that carries an even bigger weight of oils with lots of pine and citrus | 16-19% | |
| Taiheke™ | Dual purpose US Cultivar with citrus "grapefruit/lime | X | 6-8% |
| Chinook | Dual purpose US cultivar with pine "grapefruit/spice | 12.1-12.2% | |
| Fuggle | UK aroma cultivar with mild fruit "herbal/woody | 6.10% | |
| Golding | UK aroma hop with mild, delicate and sweet floral characteristics | 4-4.2% | |
| Liberty | US aroma cultivar with mild and spicy, subtle lemon and citrus characteristics | 5.90% | |
| Styrian Golding | European aroma hop with very mild, noble and spicy hop flavours | 5.1-6.1% | |
| Willamette | US aroma cultivar with mild and pleasant, slightly spicy floral tones | 6-7.6% | |
| Wye Challenger | Dual purpose hop with balanced bittering. Spicy, clean citrusy aroma with distinct herbal notes | 8.90% | |
| Moutere™ | high alpha hop with distinctive tropical, grapefruit and passion fruit characters | 17.5-19.5% |
Brewing with Local Pride
There's something magical about brewing with hops grown just down the road. When you're using Motueka in your pale ale or Nelson Sauvin in your IPA, you're not just adding flavour – you're connecting with the land, the climate, and the generations of growers who've perfected these varieties.
Our hops have become the foundation for some of New Zealand's most celebrated beers, from approachable session ales to boundary-pushing experimental brews. They work beautifully on their own or in combination, offering endless possibilities for creative brewers.
Supporting Local Excellence
When you choose New Zealand hops, you're supporting an industry that's become a source of genuine national pride. These varieties are grown by families who've dedicated their lives to hop cultivation, processed with care and attention to quality, and delivered fresh from our harvest to your fermenter.
From the rolling hop gardens of Nelson to your glass, every step represents New Zealand excellence at its finest. These aren't just hops – they're a taste of home, a connection to our land, and a celebration of what makes New Zealand brewing truly special.
Grainfather Team
