by seymour » Mon Sep 30, 2013 10:32 am
Bump.
I've grown Cascade, Northern Brewer, Chinook, Fuggle, Saaz, Hallertau mittelfrüh, Cluster, Challenger, several others I've forgotten over the years, and several natives.
The natives grow best, obviously, since they possess centuries of natural adaptation to our climate, pests, diseases, drought/deluge cycle, etc. But, their brewing properties are always luck-of-the-draw. The next most prolific cultivars are definitely Cascade, then Northern Brewer (which is odd, considering we are on the southern edge of suitable hops-growing latitudes, but this has been proven year after year for me.) My Saaz and Challenger do okay. My Cluster, Chinook, Hallertau, and Fuggles failed miserably. I too have heard Centennial do okay around here. Your mileage may vary.