Ernest T90 Hop Pellets

Discover Ernest hops – a modern British hop variety that brings bold, fruit-forward character to your homebrews. Available here in convenient T90 hop pellets, Ernest is a versatile dual-purpose hop that can be used for both bittering and aroma additions, delivering distinctive flavours that stand out in today’s craft beer styles.

History of Ernest Hops

Ernest was originally bred at Wye College in the 1950s but was never released commercially at the time. Revived from trial stock decades later, it found new life during the craft beer movement, appreciated for its unique flavour profile that set it apart from traditional English hops. Today, Ernest is grown in the UK and valued by brewers seeking vibrant, fruit-driven notes combined with the reliability of a hardy British hop.

Aroma Profile

Ernest offers a bold and complex aroma, much punchier than classic English varieties. Expect:

• Intense tropical fruit (mango, apricot, passionfruit)

• Distinct citrus zest (grapefruit, orange)

• Underlying spicy and herbal notes reminiscent of English heritage hops

Flavour in Beer

In the glass, Ernest delivers:

• Juicy stone fruit and ripe mango flavours

• Tangy grapefruit and citrus peel brightness

• A resinous, slightly spicy backbone for balance
  Used late in the boil or as a dry hop, it provides expressive fruit character. As a bittering hop, it lends firm but smooth bitterness.

How to Use Ernest T90 Pellets

• Bittering additions: Add at 60 minutes for clean, firm bitterness (alpha acids typically 4–6%).

• Late boil / whirlpool: Add at 10–0 minutes to bring out the bold fruit and citrus notes.

• Dry hopping: For maximum aroma impact in pale ales, IPAs, or modern bitters.

Beer Styles Suited to Ernest

Ernest’s fruity and citrus profile makes it well-suited to:

• Pale Ales (both British and American inspired)

• IPAs and Session IPAs

• Modern Bitters and Golden Ales

• Experimental brews that benefit from tropical fruit character

Beers Featuring Ernest

Ernest has been used by several innovative UK craft breweries, often in single-hop releases to showcase its unique profile. It has featured in:

• Single-hop Pale Ales from UK micros such as Kernel Brewery and Burning Sky (small batch / limited runs)

• Seasonal or experimental brews where brewers highlight British hops with a modern twist

Why Choose Ernest Hops?

• Revived heritage British hop with a unique fruit-forward profile

• Perfect for homebrewers seeking something different from classic UK hops

• Available in T90 hop pellet format for ease of use and efficient extraction

Hukins Hop farm is a 5th generation farm, with family at its heart.

For over 100 years we have been growing British hop garlands on the unique ‘terroir’ in the Weald of Kent. Our focus on quality and care for our environment allows our hops to reflect the rich heritage of the Kent countryside.

Our varieties include intense apricot from Ernest, oranges from Bullion and the classic English flavours of Fuggle, Golding’s and Challenger amongst others. We also supply ‘green’ fresh hop cones for seasonal green beers during harvest time.

We contract and source our hops from the finest merchants and farms around the world, ensuring you get the chance to brew with the same high quality product that professional breweries use.

Using mylar bags which prevent light degradation of the hops, flushing the bags with nitrogen to remove oxygen and cold storage of them until ordered by you, ensures the hops are as fresh as possible.

If you want to learn more about hops and how to use them then check out our Help Centre where you will find blog posts and our Brew With Us ESSENTIALS and we also have some great content on our YouTube channel about hops too.