New Hop strain info - US4/78 & 96H1/7

[GallowsHillBrew]

Hi,

I guess this is a long shot....

The South African hop farms have a fairly new hop variety available - US4/78.
Rumor is that it is related to European noble varieties. (7.8% alpha, I have no info on the beta acid %)

Has anyone got more information on this strain and it's best uses.

They also have an experimental strain 96H1/7 coming in at 3.6% alpha.
Has anyone heard of this strain

I am getting a sample next week. Not quite sure what to use it for...

More experimental strains are due for harvesting early in 2012.
Cant wait to get my hands on them...

[GallowsHillBrew]

The details for US4/78 are as follows:

ORIGIN:
US4/78 is a South African bred aroma, day neutral variety.

PEDIGREE:
A diploid seedling originating from Saaz and Hallertauer crossing.

PICKABILITY:
Good, optimum-picking window of 10 - 15 days. Cones hang well and do not shatter at optimum ripeness.

GROWTH HABIT:
Vigorous and strong bine development. 3-4 Bines can be trained which will develop into a growers friendly hop plant. Plants do not need any artificial light to extend the day length.

DRYING:
BALING Normal

BOTANY:
Bines: Strong and vigorous bines.
Laterals: Medium long laterals
Leaves: Dark green with five lobed leaves on main bine.
Cones: Medium size, neat, spiky, medium tight and dense.

BREWING QUALITY:
Aromatic type hop with good essential oil qualities.

Lupulin: Plentiful and yellow in colour
Aroma: Mild, pleasant and slightly spicy
Alpha Acids: 12.0 – 13.5% Alpha Acids 5.0-8.0%
Beta Acids: 7-8%
Cohumulone: 16.6-20.2%
Storability: (Pellets) 5 – 6% alpha loss over 12 mth
Total Oil: ml/100g 0.8-1.0%
Humulene: 17-26%
Caryophyllene: 10-13%
Hum/Car Ratio: 2.7 – 3.4%
Farnesene: 0.1-0.4%
Myrcene: 20-35%

GENERAL
This locally bred aroma type hop variety was selected specifically for South African conditions. It is a very vigorous variety requiring wide planting distances. The medium size cones are slightly spiky, neat and tight with an average cone weight of 0.16g. The cone to leaf ratio is 80:20.

[einhorn]

Sounds really interesting. I guess the cross (Hallertau/Saaz) speaks for itself as a great finishing hop for lagers or would probably complement most NW Pacific hops in finishing/dry-hopping.

[GallowsHillBrew]

I am thinking of running a very small batch with the US4/78 as the only hop... A single hop Pale Ale... Should be interesting

[einhorn]

Good idea. Judging by the mix, it will have certain grassy elements. And you can call it "US4/78 Pale Ale" until they come up with a name like Xanadu or Trilithium.

[GallowsHillBrew]

Will let you know how the test goes...

[ParishBrewingCo]

Any results? I'm interested, especially since I get back to my birthplace Cape Town every now and again. We are looking to bring a new hop to our brewery here in Louisiana. Give me a shout. andrew@parishbeer.com

Cheers.
Andrew