Together, Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) and Yakima Chief Ranches (YCR), in partnership with the Hop Breeding Company (HBC), officially launched HBC 1019. Introducing, Dolcita™!

Rich in tropical stone fruit and sweet aromatics, Dolcita delivers hop character that brewers and beer drinkers love. Its pineapple and cream notes layer perfectly into a Hazy IPA, while its pronounced peach ring attributes make it well-suited to punch a vibrant pop into any beer recipe.

The sensory team at YCH has logged plenty of evaluation hours with Dolcita and is excited to have this hop graduate from Concept to Commercialization. “Those who know me can attest that I’m a bit obsessed with gummy candy, with all versions of peach rings included,” says Senior Manager of Hop Research Tiff Pitra, who has assessed over 10,000 hop samples during her time at YCH. “My mouth waters every time I smell Dolcita, as I’m reminded of those delightfully sugar-crusted peach rings.”

YCR, a partner in HBC, works on the grower side of our supply chain by leading breeding efforts, contracting acreage, and providing growers with virus-free plants. YCR has experienced tremendous momentum with Dolcita’s development. First crossed in 2016, this standout hop was identified as a promising seedling and is the first variety to be released through a fast-track breeding technique. Bypassing the 'Single Hill' stage and going directly to multi-hill trials shaved years off the typical 10 to 12-year timeline. The road to commercialization is different for each variety, and after a strong nine-year run, Dolcita is making her big debut!

Dolcita is highly praised by brewers for its exceptional retention of desirable compounds, offering versatility and complexity across various styles from Hazy IPAs and hoppy lagers to hop waters and other non-alcoholic offerings. The tropical notes can be amplified or diversified with complementary hops. Notable favorites for blending are Cascade and Centennial on the traditional side, Citra® and Krush® for juicy cohesion, and Nelson Sauvin® and Motueka® have been called out for their ability to create Southern Hemisphere harmony.

YCH partnered with a few select breweries to brew a specialty beer in honor of launching the Dolcita Brand. Nashville, Tennessee’s Southern Grist Brewing Company Founder and Production Manager, Jared Welch, was enthused to participate in the collaboration. “Anytime we have a chance to be on the industry forefront, we take that very seriously,” he says. “I can be as excited as I want about something, but if it doesn’t hit with the customer, they are not purchasing. Then the product’s success is jeopardized.” He looks forward to Dolcita becoming a name that is recognized and appreciated when consumers see it called out on a can.

For the collaboration, Southern Grist created Sunspill, a New England-style IPA that features heavy additions of flaked oats and wheat for a smooth body. “We wanted to lean into the hop profile as much as possible to drive home what it can do for this very popular style,” Welch explains. Dolcita will be paired with Citra in the recipe to “Get a massive citrus creamsicle bomb with some complex notes of tropical fruit.”

Masthead Brewing in Cleveland, Ohio, first used Dolcita as HBC 1019 in a collab with Alesmith several years ago. “We paired it with Citra® and Idaho 7®, and it was phenomenal,” explains Founder and Head of Brewing Mike Pelechaty. When the commercialization of Dolcita was revealed, Pelechaty applauded the move, citing that the feeling of permanence seemed like an obvious next step for the variety. “Dolcita will be able to find a home in our regular rotation.”

When selecting hops for their lineup, Masthead values availability and lot-to-lot consistency before weighing how a new hop will interact with their standard lineup. “Citra is in the mix for most beers these days, but I think Dolcita and Krush will actually be great together,” says Pelechaty. To bolster the launch of Dolcita, Masthead created their collaboration beer using Dolcita Cryo Hops® supported by Citra. “Because the peach ring character is so pronounced, I think it’s perfect for a big, double dry-hopped hazy IPA. We’re going for a big tropical punch!”

Not sure what to expect from the newly named HBC? Dancing Gnome in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, tends to stick to the classics when it comes to hop selection, and is the only collaboration partner who hadn’t used HBC 1019 before the launch. In a market where everyone’s favorite flavor seems to be “new,” Dancing Gnome doesn’t want to invest too heavily in a hop that might not be going anywhere. “I’m sure I would have gotten to trialing it eventually, but if people are liking this enough that you are ready to name it and claim it, then I’m all in,” says Andrew Witchey, Owner and Director of Operations. “I’m excited about this one and think it can find a home with us, but the customer is ultimately the driving force of whether a brand gets repeated, or how often,” he says, noting that Dancing Gnome does have a monthly rotation of experimental beers that allow them to trial new products, processes, or ideas.  

Designing a one-off recipe for a hop they hadn’t used before was an exciting challenge. For their collaboration brew, Neo-Retro, a Hazy IPA, they chose to utilize the hop in as many aspects of the beer as possible, starting on the hot side, and through several different dry hop stages. Witchey says when he opened the bag of Dolcita Cryo® for the first time, he was hit with a big tropical punch. “That character I got right out of the bag is currently carrying through the fermenting beer. It’s like a strawberry daiquiri, it has a very rounded finish, almost like strawberry cream,” he says of the beer, which at the time of writing, was almost at terminal gravity. “I think this hop is very unique and will be a fun thing to have in the arsenal.”

From all the teams at YCH, YCR, and HBC, we thank the brewers who have believed in this hop and helped it succeed in a timely commercialization. To start brewing with Dolcita, reach out to your sales rep or contact us through hops@yakimachief.com.

Dolcita™ is a trademark of Hop Breeding Company, LLC