Last weekend, our team made a special trip to a hop growing base in Gansu.

Walking into the fields, we were greeted by lush green vines climbing up the trellises, with hop cones emitting a unique aroma of citrus and pine. The base manager told us that the varieties planted here are Cascade and Saaz. Thanks to the large temperature difference between day and night and abundant sunshine in the region, the hop quality is outstanding.

We crouched down to examine the plumpness of the cones and carefully asked about this year’s harvest time and alpha acid content. Having worked in brewing equipment for many years, we increasingly realize: good equipment deserves good ingredients. Understanding every step of the hop’s journey from field to brewery helps us design better-matched dry-hopping processes and cold storage solutions for our customers.

Before leaving, we took a few samples with us. Testing them back at the shop is also a way to learn. A little knowledge about raw materials makes our equipment that much more thoughtful.