Mosaic (HBC 369): A New Flavor Hop Variety

Mosaic (brand HBC 369) is a new flavor hop variety having unique and highly favored flavor characteristics. Mosaic was developed and released by the Hop Breeding Company LLC (HBC) and is protected by a U.S. plant patent ("Hop Plant Named HBC 369"). Mosaic's maternal parent, YCR 14 (Simcoe), is a commercial cultivar with a unique aroma but with relatively low yield and susceptibility to powdery mildew. YCR 14 was crossed to a male plant with powdery mildew resistance and high yield in its genetic background, with the ultimate goal of creating a commercial cultivar with unique aromatic/flavoring characteristics, resistance to powdery mildew, and good yield. HBC 369 (Mosaic) was selected from this cross on that basis. Mosaic has a unique aroma combined with high a-acid content, powdery mildew tolerance, and exceptional yield. To date, flavor testing of beer brewed with Mosaic, both at pilot and commercial scale, has brought about an enthusiastic response from brewers and tasters, and the future of this new hop variety looks promising. The aroma/flavor descriptors used commonly include fruity (blueberry), citrus (tangerine, grapefruit), tropical (mango, guava), floral, and earthy. The combination of these aroma/flavor descriptors with the relatively high a-acid levels allows this hop to serve a dual purpose, as both a bittering and flavor/aroma hop in the brewing process. Ultimately, Mosaic provides flavor and aroma profiles in beer that cannot be accomplished with other hop cultivars.