Windsor & Eton Brewery Use YCH HOPS In Harry & Meghan’s Windsor Knot

A bit of the Pacific Northwest will be part of the upcoming royal wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Meghan Markle that will take place on May 19, 2018. YCH HOPS (Yakima Chief – Hopunion) will supply its Simcoe brand hops as the sole American hop to be part of the recipe for Harry & Meghan’s Windsor Knot brewed by Windsor & Eton Brewery.

Here are additional details from the press release…

The celebratory brew is a Pale Ale and a special limited edition of Windsor & Eton’s best-selling beer, Windsor Knot™, which was first brewed for the marriage of Prince Harry’s brother, His Royal Highness, William, The Duke of Cambridge. Simcoe® is the only American hop brand that was included in the beer, showcasing the flavorful and aromatic hops being sourced from the Pacific Northwest and placing Yakima Valley on the map in a global way. The brand was chosen by Windsor & Eton brewers in honor of bride-to-be Meghan Markle’s West Coast roots.

“We use a special blend of British hops called Invicta in recognition of Prince Harry’s role in creating the Invictus Games, combined with great American West Coast hops,” explains Windsor & Eton’s Master Brewer and Co-Founder Paddy Johnson.

The Simcoe® brand hops used in this celebratory beer were grown and harvested in 2017 at Perrault Farms and processed at one of YCH HOPS’ quality production facilities; all within the Yakima Valley of Washington State. Perrault Farms, a grower-owner of YCH HOPS, is a fourth generation hop farm owned by the Perrault Family. Select Botanicals Group, the organization responsible for the creation of the Simcoe® brand, is led by Jason Perrault, a family member of Perrault Farms and the current CEO of Select Botanicals Group.

Through an extensive breeding process, Yakima Chief Ranches, now known as Select Botanicals Group, developed and released the YCR-14 hop variety in 2000 under the brand Simcoe®. Simcoe® is a popular American hop brand known worldwide for its brewing versatility and unique aroma.

“As the largest purveyor of premium American hops from the Pacific Northwest, we are thrilled that the hops chosen for this special brew came from one of our family farms, the same family that helped to bring this significant variety into the brewing market,” says Kate Ruffing, Chief Marketing Officer of YCH HOPS. “We are honored that this well-rounded, legendary American hop brand was chosen to represent Ms. Markle’s American roots, and we wish all the best to the happy couple.”

Harry & Meghan’s Windsor Knot™ will be available in both 330ml bottles at 4.5% ABV and in cask at 4% ABV. Both can be pre-ordered by emailing sales@webrew.co.uk.

YCH HOPS will be hosting an event on May 18th to celebrate this special edition beer, their American hop contribution to the brew, and the greatly anticipated royal wedding between His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Meghan Markle.

About Yakima Chief – Hopunion
Yakima Chief – Hopunion is a 100% grower-owned, global hop supplier focused on providing premium quality hops and uncompromising service. The team is driven by a profound appreciation for the earth’s natural resources and a heartfelt respect for the communities and customers they serve. This creates a culture of continuous improvement centered on sustainably produced, innovative hop products for beer. From Fresh Hops, to whole-leaf hops, Cryo Hops®, hop pellets and CO2 hop extract derived products, Yakima Chief – Hopunion is uniquely positioned, and passionate about connecting the world’s finest brewers with family-run hop farms through YCH HOPS.

About Select Botanicals Group
Select Botanicals Group, LLC (SBG) is an integrated crop management company that specializes in breeding new hop varieties for the global brewing industry. SBG exists to create and sustain value in the hop market- from the family farm to the drinkers of great beer worldwide.