How Sureshot boosted their yields using BarthHaas Advanced Hop Products At BarthHaas X, we believe hop innovation should drive not just flavor, but also efficiency, consistency, and creativity. This collaboration is also one that is born out of experience, expertise, and friendship.
It was in 2024 when Sean, Head Brewer of Sureshot, surrounded by freshly harvested hops and conversations with breeders, growers, and brewers, began to truly realise the potential of BarthHaas Advanced Hop Products and new varieties like HBC 1019 and KRUSH.
“I first got to explore a lot of these products on the Hop Harvest in 2024,” Sean said. “It really opened my eyes to a lot of the stuff you can do with the new liquid hop preparations and some of the new varieties that are coming out.”
That inspiration turned into experimentation, and eventually, into a full-fledged collaboration. For ‘Piscine’, a DDH Pale Ale, Sean and the team at Sureshot built a recipe specifically to showcase those new hop varieties he had encountered in Yakima.
“We were really aiming for a nice mix of tropical coconut and pineapple when we conceptualized the recipe, which we feel the BRU-1 and the HBC 1019 really added,” Sean explained. “The KRUSH SPECTRUM also added some nice kind of berry and peach notes in the background.” Sean also noted how the subtle tropical character of HBC 1019, “almost like a dialed-down Sabro”, made it a flexible tool in their hop arsenal. “It lets us layer different hop flavors without overpowering the hops we already use.”
By leaning into our advanced hop range, including FLEX® for bittering, Citra BBC for whirlpool, and both KRUSH SPECTRUM and Citra SPECTRUM during fermentation, the team was able to build a hop profile that was soft, juicy, and layered. “When you're producing a beer that's heavier in oil than our normal varieties, we try and push hops into it that we feel add mouthfeel, like Citra or HBC 1019.” Sean added. “When you've added all these together, it really just gives a full-feeling beer that's also got a lot of that nice tropical flavor.”
Better Yields, Less Hassle
Sureshot compared the yield from the Piscine brew against their averages when brewing DDH Pale and found a 141-litre increase, roughly 329 extra cans or nearly five more kegs.
“We’ve just finished packaging and crunched the numbers. We got 141 litres more than our average. For us, that’s a significant amount. We’re really happy with the results.” Thanks to advanced hop products like SPECTRUM, LupoMAX and HopAid® Antifoam, the team was able to minimise beer loss and yeast blow-off, as well as reduce tank cleaning times. “There’s a lot less yeast flying about during fermentation,” said Sean. “Less scrubbing down tanks and floors. There’s a lot of time saved, the brewers are really happy.”
Smooth Brewing, Full Flavor
Efficiency gains, of course, extended to the brewhouse as well. “FLEX® made cleaning the kettle at the end of the brew process a lot easier… it eliminated the issues we have with pellets clogging the kettle exit.” HopHaze® is a staple in Sureshot’s cold store. It ensures haze retention and visual stability, helping the beer maintain its soft, juicy appearance. “As normal we've used some HopHaze® in this beer” he adds, “It allows us to push the amount of oil we’re adding without worrying about beers dropping bright in the can. It really lets us experiment with new hop preparations.”
Efficiency That Pays Off
Even with a slightly lower yield once having cast to FV, Sureshot we’re still able to produce more beer thanks to SPECTRUM and LupoMAX. The next step is for Sureshot to follow the a similar recipe, but to swap out the 5kg of hop pellets in the Whirlpool for a dose of Incognito. With this change, imagine the boost in overall yield… With better yield and fewer losses, Sureshot was able to drop the price per keg by £10, without compromising on quality. A benefit we’re sure dispensaries and consumers would be very happy to enjoy.
“We were able to offer the beer at a slightly lower price, which customers always appreciate,” Sean said. “We dropped the price of a keg due to the extra volume we got out.”
That’s what hop innovation looks like in action: bold flavor, real savings, and new possibilities.
Brew Comparison Data
Metric | Existing Beer | Collaboration | Improvement |
Yield - Kettle | 3100 | 3100 | 0 |
Yield - Whirlpool | 3100 | 3100 | 0 |
Yield - Cast to FV | 3183.8 | 3160 | - 23.8 |
Yield - Packaging | 2454.07 | 2600 | + 145.93 |
Price of hop additions per brew | 1386.5 | 1460 | + 73.5 |
Price of pint (at cost) | 0.96 | 0.9 | - 0.06 |
Why Choose BarthHaas?
At BarthHaas, we've dedicated decades to advancing hop products and empowering brewers to maximize their potential. We provide extensive research, technical support, and brewing expertise to every partner, whether refining a top-seller or launching innovative products.
We go beyond discussing yield and quality; we help you unlock them. When brewers think of liquid hop extracts, hop concentrate, hop extract for brewing, hop aroma extract, and liquid hop extract, they think of BarthHaas. We're more than suppliers; we're partners in the brewing journey.
Are you ready to discover what's possible?
Watch Sean's full video testimonial to learn how Piscine came to fruition.
