OSU receives $1 million gift for hops breeding and chemistry research

By Dorothy Beaton, 541-737-3228
Source: Russ Karow, 541-737-5857

Corvallis, Ore. – Oregon State University announced the creation of a new aroma hop breeding program within the OSU Department of Crop and Soil Science. The new breeding program was made possible by an $807,000 gift pledge from Indie Hops, an Oregon-based hop merchant, through the Agricultural Research Foundation, a corporate affiliate of Oregon State University. Shaun Townsend, a U.S. Department of Agriculture hop breeding specialist and courtesy professor at OSU, will lead the new program.

This gift comes in addition to $200,000 from Indie Hops to Thomas Shellhammer, holder of the Nor’Wester Professorship in Fermentation Science in OSU’s Department Food Sciences and Technology, to foster research in new techniques for developing aroma hops and to study aroma hop chemistry. The breeding program will work closely with Shellhammer’s lab to study hop essential oil composition and how individual oil components impart the characteristic flavor and aroma to beer.

In total, Indie Hops has committed $1,007,000 through the Agricultural Research Foundation to strengthen existing hop research at OSU, specifically addressing the needs of both the craft beer industry and Oregon aroma hop growers. If initial work suggests that there is a good possibility for development of varieties that are desirable to the craft brewing industry, Indie Hops has reserved the right to enter into a research contract with OSU for additional work, according to Roger Worthington, owner of Indie Hops.

“As the craft beer movement continues to gather speed, the time is right to begin a hop breeding program that is focused on serving the craft brewer’s need for new hops that push the flavor and aroma envelope, ” Worthington said. “Indie Hops believes that Oregon State has the skill, experience and passion to bring home new hop varieties that will take craft beer to new and loftier heights.”

Oregon is one of the premier aroma hop growing regions in the United States and home to a vibrant craft brewing industry.

“When you consider the hop research programs and expertise already in place at OSU and USDA-Agricultural Research Service, and that we are neighbors with both the aroma hop growers and craft beer industry, the potential we have to solve problems affecting this industry is outstanding,” Townsend said.

OSU and USDA already collaborate on hop research programs to address disease and insect problems, hop chemistry and its relation to beer quality, and the genetic basis for quality traits. In facilities near the OSU campus, USDA researchers maintain the nation’s largest collection of hops plants and genetic material.

“Oregon State University has a long and strong history of hops related research,” Shellhammer said.  “An unrestricted gift of this size will allow OSU to help strengthen the U.S. hops industry as we investigate what factors lead to better aroma hop, the type of hops which are a cornerstone of the American craft brewing movement.”

“We are excited that there is now a world-class hops research and breeding program focused on the vibrant craft brewing market, and it’s at a public university in the heart of the USA’s premium aroma hops region,” said Indie Hops CEO Jim Solberg.  “OSU will be able to build on their considerable base of knowledge and share new findings with researchers from many disciplines.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chad Sperry
mhcc@gorge.net
(541) 980-2338

Mt. Hood Cycling Classic
– Toughest Pro/Am Cycling Event in the Country Returns for 2010 –

Hood River, Ore., February 8^th, 2010– The Mt. Hood Cycling classic, renown for it’s challenging Columbia Gorge time trial and mountain top finishes, is pleased to announce the addition of a new title sponsor, Indie Hops, as well as two new stages in Portland, Oregon.

“We’re excited to have Indie Hops on board,” said race director Chad Sperry. “Their sponsorship will continue our tradition of using the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic as a vehicle for promoting a healthy lifestyle as well as the regions amazing craft beer.”

Indie Hops of Portland is a new company whose mission is to grow and supply the craft beer industry with 100% Oregon grown aroma hops. Roger Worthington, the owner, himself is a long-time competitor in the classic, and in 2009 won the masters division.

“”Indie Hops is pleased to sponsor this truly unique race in the center of Beervana,” said Worthington. “It’s a perfect fit. We think a well-hopped beer should be a vital part of every athlete’s training table.”

The 2010 Indie Hops Mt. Hood Cycling Classic will kick off at ground zero in Portland, the biking and craft beer capital of the U.S.  On June 1^st, racers will test the speed and cornering limits of human powered vehicles on the Portland International Raceway in a must-see prologue. For the first time ever the Prologue and 5 stage race will be open to separate Category 2 men’s field in addition to the Pro-1 Men’s race.

Roger Worthington Leading the Pack in the 2009 Mt Hood Cycling Classic Criterium

On June 2^nd, for Stage 1, the Pro Men and Category 2 racers will return to the lung and leg busting Mt. Tabor Circuit race in Portland.  With a total elevation of 3000 feet for a 90 minute circuit race it is going to be a one tough night of racing.

For stage two the race will leave the state of Oregon for the first time in its history traveling north into Washington State and the base of the majestic Mt. Adams.  This also marks the start of the race for the amateur categories competing at the event.  Competitors will roll across the flanks of Mt. Adams and through scenic farm lands on relatively flat roads.  “For 2010 we truly wanted to offer the sprinters something that they could contest before sending everyone back to our traditional mountain courses” says race director Chad Sperry.  This new course is so scenic and spectacular it will make for a great addition to the event and now give us a three volcano tour with the return of Mt. Tabor and Mt. Hood”.

Stage four will again feature the toughest time trial in the country with the return of the Scenic Gorge Time Trial, an 18 mile, point to point love-hate fest with over 2,000 feet of climbing.  Racers will need to combine speed, power and nerve, as it’s not unusual for racers churning through the Gorge to face sustained headwinds of over 25 mph with sudden ‘wind bomb” explosions exceeding 30 mph.

The stage five Wy’East Road Race will once again weed out the podium pretenders.  Starting in the alpine settings on the flanks of Mt. Hood, the course takes racers east into the dry arid regions of Eastern Oregon before returning to the grueling mountain to finish at the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort.  Stage six will conclude the race on Sunday June 6^th with the downtown Hood River Criterium, a mad dash around the iconic Full Sail Brewing Company.

“The 2010 Indie Hops Mt. Hood Cycling Classic should be our best year ever,” forecasted Sperry. “With Indie Hops on board, we will build a rock concert atmosphere at the Mt. Tabor and Hood River criteriums—picture high speed action on the course with vigorous debate by beer lovers on the sidelines over which IPA, Stout or Red has the best flavor and aroma.”

Worthington "Flying" in the Criterium

“We look forward to a long and ‘hoppy’ relationship with Indie Hops, “ said Sperry, noting that Indie Hops recently announced sponsorship of a $1 million aroma hop breeding program at Oregon State University over the next 5 years.

On a less happy note, gone for this year will be the Pro 1-2 women’s race.  “We are deeply saddened to have to postpone our women’s pro race this year but do to scheduling conflicts with Liberty Classic and Tulsa Tough we were confident that the number of participants for the women’s event would have been too small to run,” Sperry.  “We are already in the works to build it back into the program next year with some shuffling of the calendar”.

For more info on the Indie Hops Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, go to www.mthoodcyclingclassic.com . For more information on Indie Hops and their vision, please see www.indiehops.com.

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More information will be added to the website shortly!

Serene crash (Everyone walked away)

You can now view complete galleries for Stages 1-4 here . (Prints and digital rights available for purchase there as well.)

Thanks for all the great feedback during the past week – what a phenomenal event!