Congratulations to Skip Madsen, head brewer at Edmonds-based American Brewing Co., for his selection as a member of the exclusive 12-person Hop Selection team that determined this year’s best hops for Washington state distribution.

According to the American Brewing website, the honor “is held high, and awarded only to those with special skill and expertise.” Madsen, who declares that “Hops are my middle name,” has been brewing beer for over 20 years, with more than 200 signature beers to his name.

Hops play a major part in brewing – for both taste and, traditionally, stability properties. Washington beers are known for their extensive use of hops, or Humulus lupulus; nearly 75 percent of hops grown on American soil come from the Yakima Valley, and the combined production of Washington, Oregon and Idaho produces over 50 million pounds annually.

“Hops are essential to beer. They’re like the spice in your soup,” said Madsen, whose signature beer, ultra-hoppy Breakaway IPA, uses Washington varieties such as Citra and Amarillo.

This year’s Hop Selection was held at Hop Union, a grower-owned hop supplier in the Yakima area, and the results of the judging will in part determine what hops (and from which Washington farms) buyers will be able to choose from in the coming year.

And the prospect of next year’s Hop Selection team? “It was a great honor; I learned a lot,” said Madsen. “I would love to do it again!”

(Information in this report comes from the American Brewing blog.)