E-Malt.com News article: USA: Anheuser-Busch pours into hops research in the Pacific Northwest

A brewing giant is pouring into hops research in the Pacific Northwest, Yahoo reported on October 8.

Earlier this week, Anheuser-Busch — the manufacturer behind brands like Bud Light, Michelob Ultra and Cutwater — disclosed a $65,000 investment into the region's hops industry. The St. Louis-based company announced that the award will benefit projects led by Oregon State University and the Hop Research Council.

The projects will examine hop storage and age impacts, according to Anheuser-Busch. Researchers will also assess factors like plant pathology and wildfire smoke's effect on hop plants.

OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences describes the plant as a "long-lived perennial in which the female flowers are used as a preservative, flavoring, and bittering agent in beer." Experts have noted Oregon, Washington and Idaho are leading states for commercial hop production.

The new research grant could help farmers better prepare for their annual harvest, while also informing brewers and other stakeholders in the beer industry, according to Anheuser-Busch.

Tom Shellhammer, OSU's "Nor'Wester Professor of Fermentation Science," said the brewing giant has supported hops researchers throughout the region and throughout the nation for more than 30 years.

"This investment will enable us to further explore new approaches and generate practical knowledge that can support local farmers, strengthen hop quality, and drive the continued advancement of the hops industry," Shellhammer added in a statement.

Earlier in August, the Oregon Beverage Alliance highlighted the U.S. Department of Agriculture's findings that Oregon farmers strung 5,443 acres of hops earlier this year. This marked a 1.6% rise from 2025, which stakeholders described as another challenging year for the industry.

Hops begin sprouting in the spring, which is followed by the start of the harvest in Mid-August. The harvest season spans through September.


09 October, 2026