2026 NEW YORK STATE BREWERS CONFERENCE
HGNY HOP COMPETITIONS: Results Are In
If you stopped by the HGNY booths at the New York State Craft Beer Conference, you already know these weren’t your average trade show giveaways.
No pens. No stress balls. Just hops - your ability to identify them, and the coveted HGNY annual Hop Nose It All and Cascade Cup trophies.
Hop NOSE IT ALL COMPETITION
We put 8 hop varieties in front of you; no labels, no hints, just aroma. Your mission: name them.
Simple in theory, brutal in practice - but undoubtedly doable.
The Official Hop Lineup
Chinook — Condzella Farm
Mackinac — Indian Ladder
Dwyer 2 — Koester Farm
Comet — Cobblestone Farm
Cascade — Weather Top Hops
USDA 032 — Pedersen Farms
Vista — Pedersen Farms
Helderberg — Indian Ladder
top Scores
Hats off to the highest scores in the challenge—proving just how sharp some noses in this industry really are:
Cheryl Wygal
Clare Allen
Jason Sahler
Chris Holden
These participants correctly identified the highest number of hops and advanced to a second round, where they battled it out on stage for bragging rights. Let’s just say…the contest was competitive!
HOP NOSE IT ALL WINNER
HGNY Board Member, Cheryl Wygal—owner of Cobblestone Hop Yard came out on top after the final round, securing bragging rights as this year’s HGNY Hop Sniffing Challenge Champion.
CASCADE CUP COMPETITION
Right alongside the Hop Sniffing Challenge, the Cascade Cup brought a different kind of competition to the floor—one rooted in tradition, nuance, and a whole lot of aroma.
The Cascade Cup is an annual showcase where growers put forward their best Cascade hops, inviting conference attendees to do what brewers do best: Smell. Evaluate. Debate. Repeat.
Why Cascade?
What makes the Cascade Cup stand out? Cascade hops have been a cornerstone of American craft brewing for decades—known for their bright citrus, floral character, and unmistakable aroma.
The competition is judged by the people who live and breathe this industry—
brewers, growers, and craft beer professionals. Which means winning isn’t just about quality,
it’s about standing out in a room full of trained palates. When it comes to judging Cascade…people have opinions. Strong ones.
CASCADE CUP Winner
After three days of sniffing, swirling, and serious consideration:
Pedersen Farmstook home top honors in this year’s Cascade Cup.
Led by Rick Pedersen—HGNY Vice President and member of the Hop Breeding Committee—the farm’s Cascade hops rose above the rest in a field of entries.
Final Take
Between the Hop Sniffing Challenge and the Cascade Cup, one thing was clear: New York’s hop community isn’t just growing—it’s dialed in, opinionated, and seriously passionate about what’s in the glass.
Events like this don’t just happen—they’re built by the growers, brewers, and partners pushing New York craft beer forward.
If you believe in supporting local agriculture, strengthening the brewing community, and telling the stories behind the beer…
