8th Annual Michigan Chinook Cup Competition

Rob Sirrine<sirrine@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - October 11, 2024

Michigan hop growers should submit hop samples by December 16, 2024.

men looking at hops — Michigan Chinook Cup Competition judging.

It is time for Michigan hop growers to send in your 2024 harvest samples for the 2025 Michigan Chinook Cup competition. The competition is open to both HGM members, who grow more than one acre of hops and non-members who grow more than two acres of hops.

Modeled after the national Cascade Cup, the Michigan Chinook Cup is awarded to the Great Beer State’s best Chinook hop grower as determined by a panel of expert craft brewers and hop producers through a series of blind tests. The samples are judged based on aroma, appearance, and analytical test results.

Why Michigan Chinook Hops?

The Chinook hop, released in 1985, is the result of a cross between Petham Golding and a USDA male plant. Chinook are a dual purpose hop, used for both bittering and aroma. In contrast to Chinook grown in the Pacific northwest that is generally known for its piney, spicy, dank attributes, Michigan Chinook is a cultivar that is increasingly recognized for its citrusy, clean profile.

Submission Process

Bell’s Brewery has once again generously volunteered to assist Hop Growers of Michigan with the event by collecting the samples at their facility. One sample is allowed per participating entity. The sample should be 1/2 pound of hops grown during the 2024 season. The sample can be either a Brewers Cut from a compressed bale of hop cones or loose fill cones in a sealed bag of your choosing which protects the contents from air and light. A certificate of analysis (COA) from an accredited laboratory documenting Alpha and Beta Acids, Total Oils and Hop Storage Index (either ASBC-12 or 14) for the post-harvest hops represented in the sample should be included with the submission.

Once received, hop samples will be appropriately stored in cold storage in a secure location at Bell’s Brewery. Samples will be transported to the Michigan’s Great Beer State Conference and Trade show prior to the judging. All samples will be assigned a random control number for the competition and submissions will be blindly judged by a panel of experienced brewers. Winners for the Chinook Cup will be determined based on appearance, aroma, and hop analysis. Awards will be presented during the Thursday night (January 9) conference reception.

The entry fee to cover trophies and other expenses related to the competition will be $20 for HGM members and $100 for non-members. Checks should be made payable to: Hop Growers of Michigan.

Hops need to be received at the Bell’s facility by December 16, 2024. The sample, COA and submission fee should be sent to:

Attn: Bonnie Steinman/Chinook Cup
Bell’s Brewery
8938 Krum Avenue
Galesburg, MI 49053

Please direct any questions to secretary@hopgrowersofmichigan.org.

Past Winners

2024: 1^st Top Hops Farm, 2^nd Bell’s Brewery Estate Hopyard, 3^rd Hop Head Farms
2023: 1^stDog Star Hops, 2^nd Top Hops Farm, 3^rd Bell’s Brewery Estate Hopyard
2022: 1^stDog Star Hops, 2^nd Elk River Hops, 3^rd Top Hops Farm
2021: Cancelled due to COVID
2020: 1^stMI Local Hops, 2^nd Egypt Valley Hopyards, 3^rd Hop Head Farms
2019: 1^stTop Hops Farm, 2^nd Egypt Valley Hopyards, 3^rd High Five Hop Farm
2018: 1^stTop Hops Farm, 2^nd MI Local Hops, 3^rd Green Heron Hops
2017: 1^stMI Local Hops, 2^nd Empire Hop Farm, 3^rd Top Hops Farm

For more information on hop production practices, please sign up for the MSU Extension Hop & Barley Production Newsletter, and continue to visit Michigan State University Extension’s Hops website or the MSU Hops News Facebook.

2025 HGM Chinook Cup Competition

ENTRY FORM

HGM Member Status (2024 growing season)

☐ 2024 Member ($20 entry fee)

☐ 2024 Non-Member ($100 entry fee)

Farm/Grower Name:_______

Contact Name:___________

Contact Email:____________

Contact Phone: __________

☐ I acknowledge that a valid Certificate of Analysis is required to be mailed along with my hop sample.

☐ I acknowledge that my submission will not be returned to me after the competition.

Please include a check, payable to Hop Growers of Michigan ($20 HGM member | $100 non-member), along with this form, your sample submission and COA, and submit in a timely manner so the sample is received on or before December 16, 2024 to:

Attn: Bonnie Steinman/Chinook Cup
Bell’s Brewery
8938 Krum Avenue
Galesburg, MI 49053

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).