Breweries are often in search of the hot new hop, but for our latest collaborative brew, we spoke with our friends at Hopewell and suggested a different approach. How about crafting a beer with some of the oldest and most lauded cultivars in the world – Saaz, Spalt, Tettnang, and Hallertau Mittelfruh. Collectively they’re known as the original “noble” hops. The product of centuries of hand selection and cultivation, these revered varieties not only endure, but they’ve also served as parents for many of the modern varieties that are prized today.

Recent trends in hop breeding tend to focus on IPAs, resulting in hops that are selected to produce fruit forward flavors and aromas. The original noble hops are quite different. While also prized for their aromatic qualities, they are much more herbaceous in profile, often with spicy and floral accents.

Saaz hops are the prized hop of the Czech Republic. When pilsner beer was first introduced in 1842, it was the locally grown Saaz hop that provided its signature hoppy flavor. As such, this grassy and spicy hop remains the go-to choice for Bohemian/Czech lagers.

Spalt takes its name from the growing region surrounding the small Franconian town of Spalt. Hops have been cultivated in the area since the 14th century, and in 1538 Spalt was the first hop to receive the German Hop Seal. It was granted by the Prince Bishop of Eichstatt in recognition of their exceptional quality. It’s prized for its spicy and herbal qualities.

The Tettnang hop growing region is named for the Southern German town of Tettnang, which abuts the northern shore of Lake Constance near the border with Switzerland. Tettnang is revered for its aromatic qualities and famous for imparting subtle citrusy notes. It’s an iconic choice for use in German pilsners.

The first documented evidence of hop cultivation in the Hallertau dates to 768. Centuries later, it remains the largest hop growing district in the world and produces the majority of hops grown in Germany. Mittelfruh translates as “middle-early” a reference to the middle-early period of the hop harvest which tends to produce the finest quality hops. Famous for its florality, Mittelfruh is susceptible to disease and low yields, which has led to breeding efforts in search of hardier cultivars that offer similar flavors and aromas. While it now makes up only a small percentage of the hops grown in the Hallertau, it remains highly sought after as many consider it the finest of German variety.

Many pilsners produced in Northern Germany are famously hop forward, so given Spalt, Tettnang, and Hallertau Mittelfruh are all from Germany, it seemed like the obvious stylistic choice for a celebration of classic hop character. To support this generous helping of hops, Noble Device was built with Barke pilsner malt, an heirloom German variety from Weyermann Specialty Malting of Bamberg Germany. This world-renowned maltster has been in operation since the 19th century and their malting of this nearly forgotten summer barley provides a solid malt structure for this invigorating pilsner bier.

Join us as we raise a toast, to everyone at Hopewell who made this magnificent lager a reality – ‘tis a beauty to behold and a joy to drink. Prost!