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spot ordering
craft hops
Spot ordering craft hops from Billy Goat Hop Farm is a flexible, budget-friendly resource for craft brewers to stay in tune with consumer's changing needs while never sacrificing quality. As contract ordering promises consistency for flagship and seasonal beers, spot hops provide single orders right when you need them - no forecasting or long term investments needed!
Your spot hop orders are sourced from independent farms, processed with the highest standards, and harvested within the last two years. Learn more about Our Process, the Billy Goat Difference, and how Resiliency is created through more hop options.
first in, first out
benefits
Sustainability
Selling older crop years prior to the new crop year is more sustainable because it minimizes the amount of excess inventory that needs to be stored. This reduces the potential waste of hops aged to degradation, as well as reducing the required cold storage space and the energy needed to keep them cold. By knowing more accurately what volumes are needed for the following year, a realistic acreage can be grown, harvested, and processed. This saves on unnecessary water, diesel, propane, electric, chemicals, labor, and the overall carbon footprint.
Consistency in the Industry
When hop farms and brokers are able to work through previous years inventory first, it allows for a more accurate assessment of the supply chain. Growers can better determine the appropriate amount of acreage per variety to grow. This will decrease the flux in availability and pricing in hops, thus making planning and budgeting brew costs more predictable and reliable.
It also allows farmers to be paid adequately for the tireless effort put in year after year. They are then able to make improvements and upgrades to their business, become more efficient and sustainable, and conduct research for better farming practices as well as breeding new varieties. In turn, brewers receive more high quality hop options at a consistent price.
Guaranteed Quality
Research has confirmed that quality is maintained in hops for three plus years under the right conditions. The largest contributing factor to the 'right conditions' is a low oxygen level. Oxygen creates a chemical reaction and alters the structures of the delicate hop compounds causing them to lose their volatile aromatic qualities and flavors. However, the lack of oxygen will eliminate the effects of this reaction, leaving hops vibrant and unaltered.
Storing hops at near freezing temperatures in opaque air-tight packaging also plays a role in maintaining hop quality. Heat causes the volatile oils in hops to evaporate quickly, leading to degrading acids, resins, and oils. Light can also cause a chemical reaction, sometimes called 'light struck' or 'skunked.' This reaction produces unpleasant, cheesy aromas and flavors in beer.
We personally pelletize and package all of the hops that we sell, and thus have direct control over this process. All of our hops are sealed by a state-of-the-art packager that preforms a double vacuum and double nitrogen purge prior to sealing, removing nearly all oxygen. Our pellets are packaged in 5.7 mil Mylar bags eliminating light damage, and are stored at 30°F year round preventing heat degradation. Any hops that you buy from us will be as fresh as the day we pelletized them!
Other reputable farms, such as Crosby Hops, already follow this approach. The benefits are already being enjoyed by producers and brewers alike. We are excited to have you join us on the path to a more consistent and sustainable hop and craft beer industry!
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