With the rebirth of the micro and pub brewing industries, and the rising popularity of specialty and extra premium beers even with the major brewers, the aroma and the taste imparted by hops are again significant. In the United States traditionally we have broken down the varieties grown into three groups: Aroma Hops, Mid-Range Alpha, and High Alpha Bittering Hops. But in recent years a breeders have brought us a fourth group, the Super-Alpha varieties.

2005 Market Conditions
The extreme winter drought of 2004-5 in the Pacific Northwest (all the precipitation fell in California) is expected to affect production of the 2005 crop and raise prices. However, 2000 additional acres were planted in 2004 which will tend to mitigate the situation. Never the less, the crop 2005 Willamette crop was already heavily contracted for by mid-March. Aroma hops are generally expected to be in tight supply.