This August 1st marked the third annual IPA day, which was founded as a way to celebrate the ingredient that many believe has defined the American Craft Beer movement. US beers, particularly those brewed on the West Coast, stand out with their liberal use of hops—and it was with this in mind that Mendocino Brewing decided to make their first 30th Anniversary Ale a hoppy, West Coast style Pale Ale. To further highlight the hops character, this ale will be single-hopped using only Cascade hops, which may be the most influential hop in the history of American craft beer!

America’s Hop

Up until the 1930’s, US brewers imported most of their hops from Germany. However, the impending war in Europe was impacting hop supplies, so the US government re-established the hop research facility at Oregon State University. By 1935, Oregon fields were producing about 26 million pounds of hops—90 percent of which were Cluster hops.

Cluster hops are believed to be the one of the oldest cultivated American hops, but they have what turned out to be a significant failing—a vulnerability to Downy Mildew. It was this weakness that would prompt the later development of what is now the most popular hop in the US, the Cascade hop.

USDA 56013—resistance is not futile

When the USDA and Oregon State University joined forces to develop a hop that would stand up to downy mildew, they likely had no idea the impact this new hop would have on the craft beer industry. The Cascade hop was first known by the rather Borg-like designation of USDA 56013, just one of many other hop varieties being tested for mildew resistance. But the new hop turned out to have more than a hardy constitution—it also had some qualities similar to the German aroma hop Hallertauer Mittlefrueh. The OSU breeders believed they had found an attractive replacement for the imported hops, and, by 1967, USDA 56013 was being produced on a small plot in Oregon.

The Forgotten Hop

The hop breeders of OSU may have had faith in the new hop, but the US beer industry wasn’t quite ready yet. The macro lager brewers that dominated the market were resistant to change, and they preferred to stick with the familiar European aroma hops rather than take a risk on this new, unknown variety. It wasn’t until the late 60s, when the German hop fields were attacked by their own disease, causing the price of imported aroma hops to skyrocket, that the big industry brewers decided to give the newly-dubbed Cascade hop a chance. In 1972, the Cascade hop was released to the public, and was chosen by Adolph Coors (yes, that Coors!) for use as an aroma hop.

Swimming against the mainstream

Coors’s interest in the Cascade hop helped encourage its further cultivation, but it turned out that the Cascade’s aroma was too strong for the mainstream brews they preferred to produce. Coors cut back on the usage of Cascade, but the hop was already starting to get noticed by the more adventurous craft brewers. Fritz Maytag, of Anchor Steam, chose the Cascade hop for his Liberty Ale, brewed in anticipation of America’s bicentennial on July 4, 1976. Liberty Ale was considered the first modern IPA brewed after Prohibition, and Maytag’s use of the Cascade hop, as well as its promotion to craft brewers by Dr. Haunold, helped to build the Cascade’s reputation as an aromatic and well-balanced hop. Now the Cascade is the most popular hop chosen by craft brewers, and has spurred the ever-growing range of IPAs—the fastest growing craft beer style in the US. In fact, as brewers compete for the best beer at beer festivals around the nation, hop growers battle each year for the coveted Cascade Cup, given to the growers of the best example of the Cascade variety.

Hop Independence!

Not only did the Cascade hop help define the style of American craft beer, it also freed the US from a dependence on imported varieties. The Cascade hop is a player in many of Mendocino Brewing’s beers, including White Hawk IPA, Talon Double IPA and Eye of the Hawk. How appropriate that Mendocino will honor this hop with their 30th Anniversary Pale Ale!

Herbal, pine, citrus, floral or fruity. Hop forward or lingering run-out—how do you like your IPAs? Let us know in the comments below!

And for a great video that follows the hop harvest from the ground up, check out this link: Hop Harvest in Oregon