WHITEFISH, MT — A collaboration between the two main U.S. producers of fresh-hop, steam-distilled essential oils for breweries and other commercial users has been announced.
Green Acre Farms, Inc. of Toppenish, WA and Glacier Hops Ranch, Inc. of Whitefish, MT jointly announced the collaborative agreement, under which the essential hop oils product produced using fresh hops, will be globally marketed and distributed under the Hopzoil™ brand.
“We began producing pure, steam-distilled oil from fresh hops right out of the field several years ago, and one of the top ten Craft breweries in the country has been using it for their groundbreaking IPA brand over the last few years”, said Green Acre Farms President Gary Morfort from his Toppenish, WA office. “This relationship with Glacier Hops Ranch allows us to expand the reach and distribution across many markets and channels.”
Glacier Hops Ranch took an independent approach to becoming a producer of the pure, intensely-aromatic oil two years ago, utilizing distillation facilities in Montana’s Flathead Valley, with locally-grown, freshly-harvested hops. “When we began talking with Green Acre Farms earlier this year, we realized that there were some clear synergies and advantages to be gained by working together, including supply chain efficiencies”, said Tom Britz, President of Glacier Hops Ranch.
Hopzoil™ is different than other liquid hop extracts used in the brewing industry, in that it uses a different raw ingredient (fresh “wet hops”, available only at harvest time), it is produced using a different process that employs large-scale pure steam-distillation free of solvents, with the result of a very different, highly concentrated ingredient. “A little goes a very long way,” said Britz.
Britz cited shipping advantages, storage efficiencies, shelf life, and reducing filtration losses as key economic drivers of the ingredient. “We can ship the equivalent of 750 lbs. of fresh hops anywhere in the U.S. for $12.40. You just can’t beat the freight savings.” Test breweries also gained an additional 3% to 15% yield from each batch by reducing filtration losses, Britz added.
Hopzoil is currently available in ten hop varieties and blends, including Azacca®, Ahhhroma™, Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Columbus/CTZ, El Dorado®, Pekko® as well as two proprietary blends. More information is available at www.hopzoil.com, or by emailing info@hopzoil.com.
About Green Acre Farms
Initially established in 1949 as a potato farm, GAF quickly shifted its focus to hops, and is now a fifth-generation hop producer and a diverse agricultural family enterprise, producing hops, apples, peaches, pears, nectarines, mint, dill and wheat. GAF is known as an innovator in improving handling and traceability of products, work safety programs and food safety compliance. Www.greenacrefarms.com
About Glacier Hops Ranch
Established in 2012 as the first small commercial hop grower in Montana’s new hop growing region, GHR quickly diversified and evolved into a global hop broker, as well as a producer of, and the exclusive distributor of Hopzoil™. www.glacierhopsranch.com.