I learned that a new hop, Sabro from Yakima Chief, is HBC-438. This is a Neo-Mecicanus derivative. It was known as Ron Mexico circa 2015. A very interesting hop to play with.
From Beerpulse.com: Yakima, WA – The Hop Breeding Company (HBC), a joint venture between John I. Haas, Inc. and Select Botanicals Group LLC, is excited to announce the release of the new proprietary hop Sabro™ brand HBC 438. Sabro is an intensely unique hop, notable for its complexity of fruity and citrus flavors, including distinct tangerine, coconut, tropical fruit, and stone fruit flavors, with hints of cedar, mint, and cream. Sabro is a strongly expressive hop that translates its flavor incredibly well into beer, according to Virgil McDonald, Brewmaster at the Haas Innovations Brewery. “It gives a robust brewing performance with a versatility that lends itself to many styles, particularly hop-forward beers.” Sabro’s exceptional flavor profile has its roots in its H. lupulus var. neomexicanus heritage. Indigenous to the American Southwest, the neomexicanus “wild hops” can be difficult to breed. However, HBC’s advanced breeding program, led by breeders Jason Perrault of Select Botanicals Group and Michael Ferguson of John I. Haas, successfully harnessed the properties of the neomexicanus heritage to create this new hop variety with an incredibly unique aroma and flavor profile.
Citrus, Stone Fruit, coconut, tropical fruit, herbal are in the flavor description. Alpha is high, up to 17%. Oil is 1.8 to 3.4%
Bunch of interesting hops to try this fall Strata Sabro Triumph Brewed with Strata (X-331) from Indie Hops a few times and it's awesome. Sabro sounds great, never tried it as HBC438 as it was so damn expensive. Got a Pale Ale going with Triumph (and a touch of Strata) right now, gravity samples before DH smelled like fruity pebbles.
