Archive - Breaking Brews with Shan Ferments

Variety Vitals 2: Tangier

One of the most talked-about hops at CBC 2026, and it came from a single plant at a family farm in the lower Yakima Valley three years ago.

Jun 11 • Shanleigh Thomson

May 2026

Variety Vitals 1: Krush (HBC 586)

A 17 year experimental hop with unusually strong raw-to-beer translation, a mysterious sulfur note, and almost no published chemistry behind it.

May 21 • Shanleigh Thomson

Terroir Tuesday Week 20: Idaho 7

How Idaho 7 went from a single farm selection to a defining modern aroma hop, with chemistry more complex than the numbers suggest

May 13 • Shanleigh Thomson

Terroir Tuesday Week 19: Sabro

Coconut and the Wild Compounds behind this Southern Hop

May 6 • Shanleigh Thomson

April 2026

Terroir Tuesday Week 18: Ekuanot

A hop shaped by wild genetics, fermentation chemistry, and one of the widest oil ranges in brewing

Apr 8 • Shanleigh Thomson

Terroir Tuesday Week 17: Columbus

The Definitely Dank Hop making a Huge Comeback

Apr 2 • Shanleigh Thomson

March 2026

Shan's Craft Brewers Conference 2026 Recommended

My Seminar Recommendations & Things to Do in Philly

Mar 30 • Shanleigh Thomson

Terroir Tuesday Week 16: Brewer's Gold

From wild Manitoba vine to modern IPA genetics, why Brewer’s Gold still matters

Mar 25 • Shanleigh Thomson

Terroir Tuesday Week 15: Cashmere

Why Cashmere Works: Inverted Terpenes, Yakima Terroir, and a Dual-Purpose Hop Built for Brewers

Mar 17 • Shanleigh Thomson

Terroir Tuesday Week 14: Riwaka

How Saaz genetics, Nelson soils, UV intensity, and thiol chemistry created the most chemically unique hop in New Zealand.

Mar 10 • Shanleigh Thomson

February 2026

Terroir Tuesday Week 13: Comet

The "Lager" Hop Making a Big Comeback

Feb 25 • Shanleigh Thomson

Terroir Tuesday Week 12: Chinese Hops

Ancient Origins, New Terroir

Feb 17 • Shanleigh Thomson