The Crop Year 2026 harvest report from Clayton Hops has officially landed, detailing the quality, yield, and oil profiles of this year’s New Zealand hop crop.
A major highlight of this crop is the commercial rollout of NZ Rhapzody™ (formerly CIP 014), the first proprietary variety from the Clayton Innovation Project. Boasting exceptionally high thiol precursors, this new entry offers a full-volume tropical profile of ripe passionfruit, mango, and berry notes, earning excellent feedback from international brewers for its performance in biotransformation.
According to the 2026 Harvest Report (PDF) Clayton Hops estimates the total production for the harvest at roughly 1,500 metric tonnes. While a demanding growing season kept industry-wide yields below initial expectations, the alpha acids and total oils held firmly within normal variety ranges.
For brewers seeking distinctive aroma hops, the harvest delivered true-to-type aromatic profiles. The “big four” varieties – Nelson Sauvin™, Motueka™, Nectaron®, and Riwaka™ – showed typical characteristics, with Nelson Sauvin™ delivering a standout year for its signature grapefruit and kiwi Sauvignon Blanc profile.
This season also marks a leadership transition at Clayton Hops, with Paul Teen stepping into the role of CEO while founder Brian Clayton moves to a strategic board position and returns to his legal career. Also joining the team in an advisory role is long time stalwart of the regional brewing industry, David Cryer.
Reflecting on the unique season, Teen stated: “CY26 was not without its challenges with a difficult growing season which affected the whole industry. But as noted in the pages that follow, quality held firm, our processing performance reached a new high, and NZ Rhapzody™ made its debut to the world in style. We are proud of what we have built. And we are just getting started.”
Operational performance hit a new benchmark through the company’s “Faster, Fresher, Better” initiative, achieving its speediest paddock-to-sealed-pellet turnaround on record to perfectly lock in volatile oils by April 1st.
With interest in hops from New Zealand climbing across Asia, the Clayton Hops team will be exhibiting at Brew Asia later this year.
To review the complete data, download the full Clayton Hops Crop Year 2026 Harvest Report HERE >>>
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