It seems appropriate that Hopsteiner chose Halloween to announce that a cultivar previous known as HS16660 will be called Erebus, the primordial deity of darkness in Greek mythology. A press release states, she “embodies the essence of its chaotic origins, serving as a bold disruptor to the world of hops.”
Brewers may instead focus on the blueberry, citrus, candied fruit and floral/rose character the hop provides. She contains 8-11% alpha acids, 3-4% beta acids and 2.3-2.8 ml/100g essential oil (including an usually high amount of geraniol).
Erebus is Hopsteiner’s third release — along with Helios and Alora — in three years. All three benefit from research identifying genetic markers. The company’s breeders used those markers to select multiple disease resistant traits, resulting in stacked resistance. Because the plants have multiple layers of protection from mildews, the amount of chemical fungicide applications required to protect them is reduced.