Washington’s Yakima Chief Hops introduced its Cryo Hops® product line in 2017, in which it developed a proprietary cryogenic process for processing hops that separates the lupulin from the vegetative matter to produce concentrated lupulin pellets. According to YCH these have “maximum aroma impact while reducing the negative effects often experienced with today’s high hopping rates.”

The company extended that concept to its Cryo Pop™ blend of products, conceptually similar to YCH’s hop blends, so far there is only the original blend but I expect there will be others. The description behind the original blend reads:

We combined this novel process with a cutting-edge lab analysis to create Cryo Pop™ blends. YCH’s R&D facility houses one of the only labs in the world with the capability to analyze previously undetectable aromatic components, allowing the identification of those with the greatest potential of showing up in finished beers. This blend of Cryo Hops® pellets contains hop varieties that are loaded with beer-soluble compounds that survive harsh brewing processes including heat, fermentation and CO2 scrubbing. By maximizing concentrations of the most impactful and complementary hop compounds, we offer an incredibly powerful hop pellet that creates a true ‘pop’ of aromas in beers. Formerly known as trial blend TRI 2304CR, the Cryo Pop™ Original Blend delivers massive tropical, stone fruit, and citrus aromas.

There’ve been a number of beers brewed now with the Cryo Pop hop blend, and Offshoot Beer Company’s Pathways Experimental Hazy IPA is the first that I’ve tasted.

Offshoot, a subsidiary of The Bruery, sent me samples of Pathways to review, which you can read about here. It’s a 7% ABV hazy that the company developed around the Cryo Hops. My review:

Appearance: Hazy, dirty orange color with gold edges when held to the light. Good white head.

Smell: There’s a candied tropical fruit aroma—not unlike dried papaya, pineapple, and candied orange/citron. A savory herbal note that’s a little bit allium, a little bit… radicchio? Purple cabbage? Classic hazy markers—fruit, lupulin powder, spiciness. Froot Loops cereal.

Taste: Moderately bitter with a cream malt (Cream of Wheat) and orange creamsicle and apricot juice. Herbal, fruity. Fruit skin, hint of crushed mint leaves, a fresh “cooling herbal” character (a bit like menthol) which is refreshing. Fairly clean, no vegetal/stem/etc. notes (as promised in the Cryo Hop premise).

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with some toothiness from the hazy, but pretty smooth and clean.

Overall: It’s pretty good and an interesting showcase of this new hop format/offering.