X06277 “Denali” Gets a Proper Name as Hopsteiner Sultana

hopsteiner.com

“New” hops are being named at a breakneck pace as hops growers and brokers try to keep up with brewers’ and drinkers’ desire for new and exciting flavors. The latest to move from experimental to name brand, Hopsteiner’s Sultana (formerly experimental hop #06277 and known briefly as Denali) claims parentage from Nugget, Zeus, and a USDA experimental hop and produces flavors described as pineapple and bright citrus with a resinous pine note as well.

The high oil content (2.5–4.0 ml/100g) makes for hops that pack a decent punch within an overall blend, and the high yield (significantly higher than many other popular aroma varieties) makes it agronomically efficient for growers.

“We use a lot of Sultana (formerly Denali) in our Dreamyard IPA and many of our other IPAS.,” says Keigan Knee, head brewer and co-owner of Modist Brewing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “The flavor to me has alway been in the sweet ripe pineapple realm. It can get a little pine dankness when used in the boil or whirlpool in larger amounts. I combine it with Citra in Dreamyard, which makes for an awesome blend of bright tangerine/lychee citrus up front and heavy, drippy pineapple citrus on the end. It’s a very oil-heavy hop and provides a strong flavor/aroma and mouthfeel that pairs well with bright hops flavors/aromas. It helps smooth out the earthy bite in Galaxy and Vic Secret hops while taking dankness to another level when combined with Strata from Indie Hops. Overall, I’ve loved the Sultana hop over the past 3 years.” —JB