408: Brent McGlashen of Mac Hops is Harvesting Sunshine on the Family Farm in Motueka

New Zealand is pretty far from everything, so competing on price for commodity bittering hops was never a great strategy for the country’s small number of hops growers. Things were pretty grim in the early 2000s, when fifth-generation farmer Brent McGlashen joined his dad working on the family farm, Mac Hops , just outside the town of Motueka on the north end of South island. But then something mysterious and wonderful happened: Craft beer took off, and creative brewers exploring new flavors and possibilities found ways to use New Zealand’s uniquely expressive hops to make beers that no one had tasted before. In this episode, McGlashen tells the family’s story—which mirrors the bigger story of hops in New Zealand, going from struggle to global spotlight. He also talks about their move to the next chapter: gaining a deeper understanding of the science behind how flavors develop in the hops, and the factors that influence those flavors. Through the hour, he touches on: breeding hops with a difference in order to stand out learning what brewers want through the selection process the impact of soil type on expression and even cone shape in hops such as Nelson Sauvin planting different hop varieties in different soil blocks to support their unique growth patterns why West Coast–style IPA brewers gravitate toward Nelson grown in sandy, stony soil, while hazy IPA brewers consistently select those grown in heavier clay soils how pick timing affects flavor and aroma impact the range of characters in popular varieties such as Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, Nectarine, Superdelic, Riwaka, Wakatu, and Rakau how New Zealand hops affect the shelf life of hop-forward beers And more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers ( https://gdchillers.com ) : G&D Chillers Elite 290 Micro-series line utilizes a natural refrigerant, features a more compact design with variable speed fans, and offers near-zero global warming potential. The future of sustainable refrigeration is here! Learn more about G&D’s Elite 290 line and visit GDCHILLERS.COM. Berkeley Yeast ( https://berkeleyyeast.com ) . Berkeley Yeast bioengineers ordinary strains and make them extraordinary—enhancing the flavors you want and eliminating the ones you don’t. Visit berkeleyyeast.com to learn more and start brewing with science on your side. Old Orchard ( https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer ) : Custom blend development is available through our innovative R&D lab. Our bulk division supplies a wide range of beverage segments, making it the one-stop shop for flavoring beer and beyond. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer. Indie Hops ( https://indiehops.com ) Taste the modern flavors of Indie Hops at CBC, this year in Indianapolis. Join Indie in Indy for 14 incredible collab beers. Check out the full CBC beer lineup at www.indiehops.com and plan to stop by their booth #3122. Steel Chill Cups ( https://SteelChillCups.com ) Steel Chill-Cups are the perfect promotional tool! Crafted from 100% recyclable steel and proudly made in the USA. Discover how Steel Chill-Cups can “Put your brand on every pour”—visit SteelChillCups.com today! Isuzu Trucks ( https://www.isuzucv.com ) Whether you are looking for a self-distribution solution or one to deliver supplies, there is an Isuzu truck that will fit your needs. Go to isuzucv.com to check out their impressive lineup or visit an Isuzu dealer today to find out why now, more than ever, Isuzu trucks are the trucks you trust for the work you do! Arryved ( https://www.arryved.com ) From taproom to distribution, Arryved gives breweries the tools to streamline operations and boost profits—all in one powerful platform. Want to see the latest innovations in action? Visit Arryved at CBC 2025, Booth 1865, where they’ll be pouring beers and showing off the future of brewery tech. Probrew ( https://www.probrew.com ) If you’re at this year’s CBC 2025 in Indianapolis, there’s one place you must check out—ProBrew at Booth 2801! See ProBrew’s solutions in action, chat with our experts, and enjoy a perfectly poured beverage—on us. So don’t miss it—ProBrew, Booth 2801. ProBrew, Brew YOUR Beer. Ss Brewtech ( https://SsBrewtech.com ) Upgrade your fermentation game with Unitank 2.0 from Ss Brewtech. Available from 7-gallon up to 1-barrel sizes, Unitank 2.0 will be right at home in your homebrew set up or producing pilot batches at your commercial brewery. Visit Ss Brewtech.com to learn more! Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast