From just 25 hop plants six years ago to more than 80,000 today, Mighty Axe Hops in Foley, MN, is becoming a force in agriculture and in supplying the growing craft brewery industry with this key ingredient. But one of the biggest challenges facing Minnesota breweries is the ability to access unique and new hop varieties—especially ones that are local.
U of M researcher Charlie Rohwer is breeding new varieties specifically for Minnesota’s growing climate. It’s an exciting and pivotal time for the industry. Brewers like Fair State Brewing Co-op recognize this work as crucial to having an exciting, sustainable hop and beer industry in the future.
