In the heart of Sweden's thriving craft beer scene, a unique collaboration has unfolded that celebrates the connection between hop growers and brewers. Beerbliotek, one of Sweden's most innovative breweries, has partnered with CLS Farms, a fifth-generation hop farm in Yakima Valley, Washington, to create a beer that showcases the versatility and vibrancy of the El Dorado hop. Facilitated by BarthHaas X and Baltic Brewing Supplies, this partnership exemplifies how passion, expertise, and collaboration can result in something truly special.
Fostering Connections: The Role of Baltic Brewing Supplies
Morten from Baltic Brewing Supplies, who played a key role in connecting Beerbliotek and CLS Farms, reflects on how the collaboration came to be: "I met the people from CLS during our harvest trip to Yakima in 2024 and had a great time hanging out with them. The passion they have for growing hops and making sure the quality is top-notch is something we really value and want to communicate to our customers. When I found out they were coming to Europe and had time for collab beers, I instantly thought of Beerbliotek. They're known for brewing incredible beers of all different styles, and I’ve always been a big fan of their IPAs." By facilitating this connection, Morten emphasized the importance of bringing brewers closer to the source of their ingredients:
"Generally, I think only a select few breweries have the chance to visit hop farms. Knowing more about where one of the main ingredients in beer comes from adds so much value and knowledge. It’s a great way to inspire brewers to think more broadly and use more hop varieties in a market that’s saturated with Citra and Mosaic heavy beers."
Growing El Dorado: The CLS Farms Story
Claire, Brand and Customer Relationships Manager at CLS Farms, shared the history and innovation behind El Dorado hops: "El Dorado® is nearly 15 years old. At the time, the craft brewing industry in the United States was just beginning, and brewers were looking for more impactful, fruity aroma varieties. CLS Farms released El Dorado® in 2010, and brewers gravitated to it for its unique tropical, candy, and fruity aromas, coupled with high alpha acids, making it suitable for beer styles across the board."
Claire also emphasized CLS Farms' commitment to quality through sustainable and progressive cultivation practices: "Our goal has always been to cultivate high-yielding hops through progressive growing and processing techniques. We pay close attention to maturity and harvest dates through in-field sensory, ensuring we pick when the hop is ready, not when it’s convenient for us. Once harvested, our gentle drying techniques ensure exceptional quality that translates from bale to pellet to beer." Collaborations like this, Claire adds, are particularly meaningful for CLS Farms:
"It’s incredible to see the global reach and impact of what we grow. These collaborations allow us to share our story and provide brewers worldwide with insight into our experience. Seeing how brewers like Beerbliotek use our hops to create unique beers strengthens our connection to the craft beer community."
A Brewer’s Perspective: Beerbliotek and El Dorado
Tom Bissett, Head Brewer at Beerbliotek, shared his excitement about working with CLS Farms and going all-in on the El Dorado hop:
"Being several thousand miles away from where the vast majority of the hops we use are grown, we don't get a huge amount of face time with the people who grow them. Spec sheets and sales pitches are great and all, but there's nothing more endearing than hearing about the product from someone who near enough birthed and nurtured this ingredient. CLS know what they're doing—five generations' worth—and have an ethos we can get behind." The decision to brew exclusively with El Dorado allowed Beerbliotek to highlight its versatility:
"El Dorado is as versatile and flavorful as any of the big ol' C hops it’s usually used with, so we utilized this by using it in each stage of the brew. It comes in every shape and form BarthHaas has to offer—T90, BBC, Incognito, through to Spectrum—and it’s been fun to use those where they work best. It's like Cillian Murphy: it’s an outstanding product; give it its Oppenheimer."
For Beerbliotek, this collaboration also aligned perfectly with their philosophy of brewing unique beers:
"This brew had a more open dialogue between us all. From CLS to BarthHaas to Baltic Brewing Supplies, to me, to you. It’s unique in that I didn’t have to sit and think about what dry hop blend and ratio would be best. The tasty fresh El Dorado had that covered. Honestly, El Dorado is a hop I haven’t used as much as I’d like to in recent years, so it’s nice to have it back in the brew house and turned up to 11."
A Collaborative Triumph
From the Yakima Valley to Sweden, this partnership represents the best of what the craft beer industry has to offer: passionate growers, innovative brewers, and dedicated suppliers coming together to celebrate the humble hop. The result is a beer that not only highlights the vibrant flavors of El Dorado but also honors the collaboration and community that made it possible.
As Tom from Beerbliotek puts it: "This was a collab that was well and truly a collaborative effort. It involves everyone in our supply chain, and it’s a reminder that these aren’t just people I buy stuff off—they’re friends, colleagues, and people I look up to. Cheers to everyone involved!"
Whether you're a brewer, grower, or simply a fan of craft beer, this story is a testament to how creativity, expertise, and genuine connections can create something extraordinary. Cheers to CLS Farms, Beerbliotek, and Baltic Brewing Supplies for bringing this beer to life — and for reminding us that some of the best beers are born from collaboration.