Ray Latif spoke with Chris Swersey of Hop Products Australia (HPA) and Mitch Steele of New Realm Brewing about the 2025 Australian hop crop. Swersey reported a bountiful harvest for HPA, with total production up 10% and yields increasing by 30% despite reduced acreage. This success stems from favorable weather and significant investments in productivity and technology. Their new HPA HOP Central pellet plant, which processed popular varieties like Galaxy, Ella, and Eclipse, recently achieved FSSC food safety certification.
Mitch Steele praised HPA’s Galaxy hops, highlighting its consistent tropical fruit intensity. After extensive evaluation, Steele found the 2025 Galaxy crop to have a complex aroma and taste, featuring classic passion fruit, lime, and a developing peach mango character. New Realm Brewing is showcasing this hop in a “less-coast pilsner,” a crisp, light beer with an intense hop aromatic profile.
Chris Swersey has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to beer and brewing. With more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, he has explored the diverse world of hops in all product formats, won awards at the WBC and GABF, served as Supply Chain Specialist and Technical Brewing Projects Manager for the US Brewers Association, and judged the WBC, GABF, Brussels Beer Challenge, Euro Beer Star, South Beer Cup, the Indies, and the AIBAs. Some would say he’s well versed in raw material and beer sensory.
About Hop Products Australia
HPA is Australia’s largest hop grower. Their farms have been growing hops for more than 150 years. Rostrevor Hop Gardens and Buffalo River Valley in North-Eastern Victoria together with Bushy Park Estates in Southern Tasmania cover almost 850 hectares capable of producing more than 2,400 tonnes of hops. Collectively they grow 90% of Australia’s hops, which is roughly 2% of hops grown around the world.
Their hop breeding program began way back in the 1950s when the primary focus was improving alpha acid yield. Then the dawn of the craft beer movement rolled around, and HPA began to breed flavor hops for the emerging market. Since then, they have created a number of hugely successful proprietary hops including Galaxy®, Vic Secret™, Eclipse®, Ella™, Enigma® and Topaz™. HPA’s Aussie hops are available exclusively through HAAS and their authorized distribution partners.