Yakima Chief Hops (YCH), in partnership with Indie Hops LLC, is thrilled to announce that Strata® Cryo Hops® are now available for the first time! This highly anticipated collaboration brings one of the industry's favorite hop varieties in YCH’s patented Cryo® pellet technology.

For brewers, Strata needs little introduction. Known for its expressive blend of passion fruit, grapefruit, strawberry, and signature wafting cannabis character, Strata, launched by Indie Hops in 2018, has earned a loyal following across beer styles and geographies. Now, by pairing that celebrated profile with bold Cryo pellet technology, brewers can experience an amplified, more efficient expression of everything they love about this powerhouse hop.

“Brewers have tremendous confidence in Cryo concentrated pellets, so with Strata Cryo available beginning with crop 2025, we’re looking forward to expanded bursts of Strata’s magical flavors,” says Indie Hops CEO Jim Solberg. It’s a natural next step for a hop that continues to inspire creativity and demand across the industry. Strata Cryo is more than a new product; it’s a celebration of Oregon innovation, supplier collaboration, and the creativity brewers bring to every batch.

Partnering with Indie Hops to bring Strata Cryo to market has been especially meaningful for YCH. Indie Hops invested early in hop breeding and research at Oregon State University, built Oregon’s first pellet mill designed for the craft market, and partners closely with Oregon growers. Inspired by the independent spirit of the breweries they serve, Indie Hops has remained committed to developing distinctive hop varieties, like Strata, that reflect creativity, community, and mirror YCH’s own commitment to quality, innovation, and a focus on the needs of brewers. Together, this collaboration represents what’s possible when shared values and purpose-driven innovation come together.

To celebrate the first run of Strata Cryo, YCH and Indie partnered with several breweries worldwide to create collaboration beers that highlight this exciting new format. Brujos Brewing in Portland, Oregon, was a natural fit. “I love Strata alone, and I can’t wait to see how Strata Cryo distinguishes itself,” says Sam Zermeno, Founder, Co-Owner, and Head Brewer of Brujos. Last harvest, Brujos crafted a Strata Fresh Hop IPA, which not only stood out as one of Zermeno’s favorite Brujos beers of 2025 but also advanced to Round 3 at the fiercely competitive Great American Beer Festival.

For Brujos, Strata is a true cornerstone hop. “We absolutely love Strata for West Coast IPA. It’s in our top three favorites,” says Zermeno, pointing to the hop’s strawberry, citrus, and passionfruit characteristics as a big part of its appeal. When it comes to Cryo Hops, Zermeno sees the enriched pellets as a way to push Strata’s expression even further. “We are Brujos, we like to push it,” he laughs, saying they plan to use Strata Cryo to further explore Strata’s unique potential. What excites him most about Cryo Hops is the explosive, bombastic expression that turns up the intensity, and when it comes to Strata, he sums it up simply: “This hop is just magical to us.”

YCH is proud that this inaugural release of Strata Cryo is made with hops grown by two of our Oregon-based grower-owners, both of whom have been long-time growers for Indie Hops as well. These Strata lots were grown by Coleman Agriculture in Gervais and Lakeside Ranches in Salem, two highly regarded Oregon growers whose stewardship and expertise shape Oregon hops from the ground up.

“We’ve worked with Indie Hops’ Strata since its early designation as X-331, learning how our different farming locations and pick windows shape its expression,” says Max Coleman, 7th-generation owner of Coleman Agriculture. They harvested their first field of the unique hop in 2015 and now grow it for Indie Hops across several farms and different pick windows to offer brewers an array of expressions of the variety’s aromas. Strata’s strong yields, disease resistance, and early harvest timing make it a good fit in their portfolio.

As seventh-generation Oregon hop farmers, the Coleman family brings a long-term perspective to everything they grow. Each of their Strata fields is certified Salmon-Safe, a program adopted as a commitment to keep local watersheds safe for Salmon and other wildlife. “We approach Strata with the same focus on stewardship, consistency, and quality that defines our family farm,” Coleman adds.

At Lakeside Ranches, that same commitment to quality and care is evident from the field to the final hop. “What stands out to us about Lakeside Strata is its vibrant aromatics paired with its remarkable ease of growing,” says Erica Lorentz, who owns Lakeside Ranches with her husband, Jake. “Strata consistently showcases vigorous growth habits and natural hardiness, making it a reliable and enjoyable variety to grow.”

Grown in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Lakeside’s Strata reflects a true-to-type, high-quality expression of the variety’s signature profile. With sustainability certifications including Global G.A.P. and Salmon-Safe, Lakeside’s farming practices align with the brewing industry’s growing interest in responsibly sourced ingredients that support environmental stewardship.

Available in limited quantities, Strata Cryo delivers heightened aroma and intensity with seamless integration into the brewing process. To expand access to Strata’s standout character, YCH also proudly offers Strata HyperBoost® and Strata T-90 pellets.

To purchase, contact your YCH or Indie Hops sales representative, order through the YCH customer portal, or reach out to us at hops@yakimachief.com.