Hop Profile: Idaho 7
Idaho 7 burst onto the scene in 2015 with a sensory profile that reminded some of Mosaic in its multifaceted character. By turns it seems to show pine, tropical fruit, citrus, and tea leaf. You may have first tasted it in Sierra Nevada’s single hop series, but it’s becoming much more commonly seen in flights and pints all over the country.
An experimental variety with undisclosed heritage bred at the Jackson Hop Farm in Wilder, ID, Idaho 7 is named for its home state. It’s known for late maturity in the field but good yields of up to 2200 lbs/acre.
One day at the beginning of this year we received a plain brown box from hop country with plain foil bags inscribed in plain black Sharpie – a mix of pelletized and whole Idaho 7 from the first crop. An ad hoc hop-rubbing committee was formed on the spot and noted powerful aromas of pungently dank balsam fir, juicy fruit gum, and red grapefruit. Fingertips became thoroughly yellow and sticky – both the pellets and the cones had a tangibly high quantity of aromatic oils.
That high oil content makes Idaho 7 a natural finishing, whirlpool, and dry hopping all-star, where it can deliver most strongly on its complex and powerful character. Expect overtones of resiny pine needles with big notes of pungent tropical fruit and citrus (think apricot, orange, red grapefruit, papaya) and earthy/fruity suggestions of black tea leaves.
Idaho 7 hops are available on spot and for contracting through BSG – please contact your sales manager for details.