In this episode, Troy sits down with Alex Diamandas, Regional Sales Manager at Yakima Chief Hops (YCH), to explore the world behind one of beer’s most important ingredients: hops. From collaborations like Continental Rift and Karma Cryo IPA to experimental Flight Series releases, GLB has worked closely with YCH over the years and this conversation pulls back the curtain on how those hops go from field to glass.   

Alex shares his journey from microbiology labs and homebrewing to the brewhouse and eventually into the global hop supply chain. They talk about what YCH actually does, how the hop industry operates at scale, and why hops have become such a defining force in modern craft beer. Along the way, they get into hop varieties, Cryo and extract products, and how brewers today approach building hop-forward beers with more intention than ever before.   

What’s in this episode: 

• The role Yakima Chief Hops plays in the global beer industry 
• How hops are grown, processed, and turned into pellets, Cryo, and extracts 
• Alex’s path from science and homebrewing into brewing and hop sales 
• A breakdown of popular hop varieties like Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe 
• What hop selection in Yakima looks like and why brewers travel there every year 
• Insights into new hop development and the future of hop innovation 

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!  

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears.