Flyer hops

[Clibit]

Are Flyer hops likely to become available again, or was it just an experiment never to be repeated? Anyone know?

[jaroporter]

duno about long term but i was in the homebrew shop other day and they had some on the shelf if ya just want to get hold of some now..

[Clibit]

Where is that, do they post?

I stupidly missed the Flyer at MM when it was dirt cheap, despite ordering several times while the offer was on.

[jaroporter]

aldershot, between M3 and A3. yup they post also. http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/aca ... Ab_s6EzAxA

[Clibit]

Brilliant, thanks very much.

[Eadweard]

I don't think the Flyer plants are going to be grubbed up, but it's unlikely any more will be planted.

[Clibit]

Any idea why?

[Eadweard]

They were taking a flyer on it being a high alpha variety but the level wasn't high enough.

[Clibit]

But a lot of people love it as a dual purpose hop it seems, which must make it viable. Unless there are issues with disease resistance or storability or yield, perhaps?

[seymour]

Flyer hops are definitely available in quantities, in whole cones and pellets, maybe just not to homebrewers.
For instance, check out Charles Faram & Co, Ltd.

Here's a downloadable list of available varieties, some really interesting stuff there: http://charlesfaram.co.uk/Portals/0/Doc ... 20list.pdf

Maybe you could talk your homebrew store or club into buying a 5kg pack to split-up?

[Clibit]

Thanks for that. That availability list has 12 developmental hops, 8 of which have been given names. They don't score highly on flavour intensity, so I guess people hoping for American type hops are probably hoping for a religious moment. My opinion is that America is really good at growing those hops, lets produce new exciting British style hops, using our unique terroir.

I also spotted that Sussex and Delta hops are nowhere on the list, though I have found a website selling 2012 stock to home brewers. Maybe Charlie Faram doesn't deal in every single UK grown hop variety? Maybe I need to grab some quick.

Out of the 25 hops in the main list, 8 are unavailable. Most of those are very new and won't be grown in any quantity yet, but I would have expected Pilot and Pioneer to be available.

[Belter]

Dean on ebid had loads the other day

[seymour]

Here's the most specific information about Flyer hops I've found yet: http://www.britishhops.org.uk/flyer/

I suspected it had a dwarf hop parent, now I finally know for sure.

FLYER

Flavour and Aroma
A citrus hop with aromas of stoned fruits, liquorice, treacle-toffee and caramel with slight burnt notes.

Bittering Characteristics
Its bittering characteristics can be best described as spicy, citrus, liquorice and resinous.

Flavour Intensity
7/10

About this Hop
Flyer is an interesting resinous hop with a relatively high alpha characteristic and excellent dry hop aroma qualities.

Breeding
Flyer is still on trial and has not yet been released for commercial growing. It results from a cross made in 2002 between a high alpha-acid female breeding line and a low trelliss-type male hop. Following promising results from advanced trial plots during 2007 and 2008, it was established on licensed farm trials with Wye Hops during 2009. The produce from the advanced plots was used for successful pilot brewing trials in 2010.

Alpha acid: 8.3-14.5%
Beta acid: 4.1-6%
Co-Humulone: 26-35%
Total Oils: about 0.6%
Myrcene: 17.4- 25%
Humulene: about 22.5%
Farnesene: about 0.7%

Also, who else remembers this original claim back in 2012/13? I knew it was bogus! So glad they're finally filling in the blanks.

I heard from Peter Darby today that Flyer is one of his hops. It got as far as farm trials on three farms but was intended as a high alpha variety and as it only got to 10% alpha it won't be going any further.

Did he, or anyone else for that matter, give any clues to its parentage? I'm not sure I fully believe this claim, "Flyer is a brand new experimental variety, it didn’t come out of a breeding program. One of our growers found it and thought he would take a ‘Flyer’ on it."

These things never happen in a vacuum. It would at least be interesting to know which brewing cultivars it was found growing amongst, and which males were grown within open-pollination range. Has anyone heard anything at all?...