Imperial Head Hunter

Our Process Fresh Hops

Most of the hops we use undergo a kilning step to remove moisture content, which makes it easier to process them into pellets, whole leaf bales, or extracts for better storage and convenience in the brewhouse. In contrast, fresh hops are hops that skip the kilning and processing phases altogether. By leaving them be, we lock in volatile aromatics and flavors that would otherwise be lost. Fresh hops are shipped directly to the brewery and used within 48 hours, or flash frozen and stored at subzero temperatures for later use. They lend a bright, green, true-to-type character that is unmatched by other methods.