Idaho 7 Hop Pellets
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Idaho 7 Hops were bred by Jackson Hop Farm in Wilder, Idaho, and released in 2015. Popular with home brewers, especially IPA hopheads, this hop combines bright grapefruit and tropical fruit flavors with pine resin and subtle hints of black tea. It earned its “7” name by being the standout selection, number 7, chosen from nine experimental varieties during Yakima Chief’s annual evaluation, hence Idaho 7® “007: The Golden Hop”, though there's no credible information linking this naming to James Bond. There's also no evidence that the first six varieties caused people to die horrible, protracted deaths, but that "number 7" was ultimately "deemed safe".
This high-alpha, dual-purpose hop packs around 12 – 15% alpha acids and a whopping 1 mL/100 g of total oils (perhaps signaling and end to oil shortages?), making it ideal for both significant bitterness and flavorful dry hopping. It's popular among Home brewers in single-hop IPAs and American Pale Ales. Idaho 7 works well in hop-forward wheat beers, and even experimental Saisons.
With its complex layers of orange, apricot, red grapefruit, papaya, black tea, and pine, Idaho 7 is a powerful yet well-balanced choice for homebrew recipes seeking both bold flavor and aroma.
Technical Details:
- Alpha Acids: ~12%–15%
- Beta Acids: ~3.5%–5%
- Total Oils: ~1.0–2.0 mL/100 g
- Usage: Dual-purpose — bittering, late additions, dry hopping
- Substitutes: El Dorado, Azacca, Citra, Mosaic
- Ideal For: IPAs, Pale Ales, hop-forward wheat beers, and Saisons
- Country of Origin: United States (Idaho)
Idaho 7 Hops FAQ
Why is it called “Idaho 7”?
Named for its role as the 7th experimental selection out of nine during Yakima Chief Hops’ breeding trials, number 7 stood out and became the Idaho 7® release name. Coincidentally, they won an award for the most creative name for a hop.
What flavors does Idaho 7 bring?
Expect tropical notes like apricot, papaya, orange and red grapefruit, layered with pine and black tea character. It offers complexity beyond typical citrus-forward hops.
Is Idaho 7 mostly used for aroma or bittering?
It’s a true dual-purpose hop: high alpha acids give solid bitterness, while its abundant oils make it great for whirlpool and dry hopping.
Which beer styles suit Idaho 7?
Perfect for IPAs, Pale Ales, hop-heavy wheat beers, and creative farmhouse styles. Popular among home brewers in SMaSH beers (single malt - single hop).
What hops pair well with Idaho 7?
Works beautifully with El Dorado, Citra, Mosaic, Azacca, Columbus, and Chinook, either to layer complexity or reinforce its tropical notes.
