In previous stories, I’ve touched on the value and importance of public hops. Today, I share news that Crosby Hops, one of Oregon’s premier hop growers, is stepping up to pledge financial support for the Hop Quality Group (HQG) and its partnership with the USDA. Below is the press release from Crosby Hops about the new program.
Recently, I shared news about the introduction of Thora, the first hop variety released from the HQG and USDA partnership. Thora was developed with substantial brewer input and trial work by hop growers, including Crosby Hops. It was a milestone in the evolution of the HQG/USDA program.
Public vs Private
What is a public hop? When a new hop variety is introduced, it is most often the product of a private breeding initiative, meaning it is intellectual property and protected by an agricultural patent. That adds to the cost of hops for farmers and brewers. That’s fine. No one is complaining about that. Some of the best-loved varieties fit that category: Mosaic®, Simcoe®, Citra®, and Krush® are just a few examples. However, it’s valuable to have the Hop Quality Group and the USDA working on new hop varieties, like Thora, that do not hold private patents and therefore do not involve any ®.
CROSBY HOPS PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC HOP BREEDING THROUGH SALES OF ESTATE-GROWN THORA
New commitment provides ongoing support for the Hop Quality Group’s public breeding partnership with the USDA.
WOODBURN, OR, December 4, 2025 — Crosby Hops, an independent, fifth-generation hop grower, processor, and merchant based in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, announced today that it will donate $1 for every pound of Crop Year 2026 Estate Grown Thora contracted through August 31, 2026 towards the Hop Quality Group USDA-ARS partnership. This partnership plays a critical role in developing new, accessible hop varieties that meet the evolving needs of today’s craft beer industry. This contribution reinforces Crosby’s longstanding commitment to advancing public hop innovation and supporting the future of brewer-driven hop development.
Thora, the first public hop variety born from the USDA-ARS and Hop Quality Group partnership, was developed with input from over 50 U.S. craft brewers and data collected by trial growing partners including Crosby Hops. The result is a variety that unites agronomic strength with the dynamic flavor expression demanded by modern brewers. Named after the Old Norse word Þórr, meaning “thunder,” Thora embodies bold, powerful sensory character.
“Thora shows what can be achieved through collaboration, and we are grateful for the HQG and USDA teams who helped move this variety from concept to reality,” said Blake Crosby, CEO of Crosby Hops. “We see tremendous potential for Thora on our farm and in the beers our partner breweries create. Our donation is a way to give back and ensure this partnership continues to drive meaningful innovation for the entire industry.”
All Crop Year 2026 Estate Grown Thora contracts through Crosby Hops will contribute directly to continued progress in public hop breeding. Brewers interested in reserving Thora should contact their Crosby Hops account manager or visit www.crosbyhops.com.
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About Crosby Hops: Founded in 1900, Crosby Hops is a vertically integrated grower, processor, and merchant, located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Independently owned and operated by fifth-generation siblings, Blake and Jackie Crosby, the company has led the industry with many initiatives including achieving B-Corp, GlobalG.A.P., Salmon-Safe, and Safe Quality Food certifications. The company has also been a leader in advanced hop products with their patented CGX® technology creating the most minimally processed hop pellet on the market. www.crosbyhops.com
