In 2004, after Ron Beatson — principal scientist (Hop Breeding & Genetics) at Plant and Food Research in New Zealand — crossed bred two parent hops. Two years later, those plants produced their first harvest of hops and Hort 4337 was identified for further trials. After another two years of trails, Hort 4337 was tagged as a good potential for the market. Another five years passed before Plant & Food thought the hop had “sufficient merits” to be cloned and put it into replicated trials alongside other selections. There were still more tests for Hort 4337 to pass. First it had to prove itself in grower trials — which it did over a two-year period from 2015 to 2017. Last, they changed the name of Hort 4337 to Nectaron, filed for its. plant variety rights, and in 2020, released it to the public. Nectaron quickly rose in popularity for its ability to impart beer with pungent notes of pineapple, peach, and grapefruit. Given its fruity nature, Nectaron is a natural fit for the modern IPA. Today, Peaks & Pints presents an in-house flight of beers brewed with Nectaron hops — a flight we’re calling Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Nectaron Hops.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Nectaron Hops
Fort George Subterranean Nectaron
5.9% ABV, bottle
This annual Fort George mixed culture saison is fermented and aged in oak puncheons beneath the bustling streets of Astoria. Subterranean Nectaron is fermented with a blend of 10 different yeast strains during a long fermentation process bolstered and balanced by bright, fresh stone fruit from a Nectaron dry hop.
Great Notion Roominator
5.8% ABV, can
Brewed with Flatlands Brewing in Elk Grove, California, this Great Notion Brewing New Zealand style pilsner is dry hopped with Superdelic, Nectaron, and Cryo Pop hops for clean, light, and crisp honey bread malt, Nectaron hoppiness, and floral lemony-orange citrus finish.
Sig Jorts & Jandals IPA
7% ABV, can
Collaboration with BreakThru Brewing in Seattle, this Sig Brewing hazy IPA is brewed with copious amounts of oats and a deft hand of flaked wheat, hopped in the kettle with Citra, Nectaron, and Nelson, and then double dry hopped with more Citra, Nectaron, and Nelson for a medley of fruit flavors and some earthy notes.
Great Notion Journey to Nectaron
7% ABV, can
Great Notion’s hazer of an IPA is dry hopped with plenty of New Zealand’s Nectaron hops that can add aromas of just about any orange-colored fruit you can dream up. This hop excels anywhere, but it really shines in the dry hop where it can cross all lines of tropical, citrus, and stone fruits. Citra hops make the perfect co-pilot to Nectaron to lead a full-on sensory assault of apricot, tangerine, and a burst of passionfruit.
Vice Beer Admin Delete if not Okay
7% ABV, can
A special beer crowd-sourced from two beer-loving Facebook Groups — The Beer Nerds and PNW Beer Lovers — brewed in honor of Mac McTernen, founder of PNWBL, who passed early February this year. The two groups and Sig Brewing in Tacoma joined Vice Beer in Vancouver, Washington, to brew this West Coast IPA with Nectaron, Galaxy, and Simcoe.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
