Introducing Luna® (HPA-033)

From our friends at HPA 

We’re excited to introduce Luna^®, a new flavour hop from Australia, and the next juicy chapter in beer innovation. Luna^® is distinguished by its lush mango, dark berry and spicy citrus characteristics, alongside a high polyphenol content that elevates the flavour profile and mouthfeel. It perfectly complements other modern hops and lends itself to many popular beer styles. From Pilsners to IPAs, Luna^® offers brewers creative flexibility backed by agronomic reliability.

The breeding program at Hop Products Australia (HPA) began way back in the 1950s, when they were all about growing bittering hops like Super Pride and Topaz™. Then the craft beer movement began, and they shifted their focus to flavour hops like Galaxy® and Ella™.

When Dr Simon Whittock took over the program in 2007, he began sorting through their experimental hops in search of lupulin gold. He selected Vic Secret^™, Eclipse^® and Luna^® for field trials because they were born from a triploid breeding strategy that consistently delivers climate resistance, high flavour impact and cost-effective brewing performance.

Every year, HPA’s agronomy team breed new experimental hops chasing the next big flavour. Very few of those progress from field trials to brewing trials, and even less go on to be commercialised. Those that get the nod, go through more than a decade of development before receiving a name. It’s been six years since HPA commercialised Eclipse^®, and now we’re beyond excited to introduce Luna^®.

Just like their customers, Aussie hops are big characters. When choosing a name, HPA like to consider both the hop’s flavour profile and its position in the portfolio. Luna^® seemed like the obvious choice for a hop that is distinguished by lush mango, dark berry and spicy citrus characters, alongside a high polyphenol content that elevates the flavour profile and mouthfeel. It’s smooth. It’s radiant. It’s expansive.

Luna^® was created by HPA’s breeding program in 2003, through a cross-pollination of high alpha Australian and Liberty hops. It is optimally adapted to the changing climate, with proven agronomic and sensory performance in both Victoria and Tasmania. Initially identified for its early harvest window, meaning it doesn’t overlap with Galaxy^® or Vic Secret^™, Luna^® has always performed exceptionally well in brewing trials.

Since 2012, HPA have worked with Lion, Sapporo, Firestone Walker, Stone & Wood, Balter, Little Creatures, 4 Pines and Rocky Ridge, among others, to understand its sensory profile. With an aroma intensity akin to Krush^™, and a biotransformation potential similar to Galaxy^®, Luna^® is a joy to experience in the whirlpool and dry hop.

A late whirlpool addition of 1-2g/L (0.4-0.7lb/bbl) accentuates the spicy citrus characters, which can present as marmalade when interacting with darker malts. While a dry hop of 4-10g/L (1.3-3.3lb/bbl) at the start of ferment elevates those lush mango and dark berry flavours alongside mouthfeel. It’s quite intense and complex, but very well-balanced and a great foundation for layering other modern hops like Galaxy^®, Vic Secret^™, Azacca^® and Mosaic^®.

“Luna’s seriously good in beer” says Ross Terlick, Head Brewer at Rocky Ridge. “It creates some beautifully complex notes of spicy citrus on the hot side, and juicy mango on the cold side. I can see Luna becoming a very popular hop. I honestly reckon it’s going to rival Galaxy.”

Luna is currently available in limited quantities, but HPA plan to progressively double production volume over the next three years, with plenty of capacity to scale operations in response to contracted demand.

“This is a new beginning” says Dr Whittock. “HPA is committed to bringing new Australian hops to market more frequently, selecting for agronomic performance in a changing climate, exceptional flavour impact, and innovative product opportunities. Our goal is to give brewers a competitive edge in the market, and beer lovers a great experience that keeps them coming back time and again.”

HPA has partnered with other members of the BarthHaas group to introduce Luna^® to international markets. Haas will pour a Luna^® beer at the Craft Brewers Conference in April and US harvest in September, and BarthHaas will feature it in beer at Brew Asia in October and their Inspiration Range at BrauBeviale in November.

Both BarthHaas and Haas will also highlight Luna^® alongside our other uniquely Australian hops at AusFest – a new series of guided sensory sessions and high-profile collaboration beers launching later this year to coincide with the arrival of crop 2026. Together, these initiatives will bring Luna^® directly to brewers around the world.

Learn more about Luna^® here, and contact your local rep to secure your supply today.