Ask Mr. Wizard

Effects of Wildfire Smoke On Hops

TroubleShooting

Greg Lewis Idaho Falls, Idaho asks,
Q

A commercial brewer recently told me that he is concerned that volatile organic compounds from wildfires in the Pacific Northwest will condense on hops and alter their organoleptic properties. Is this a real possibility? Assuming it is, how might the tainted hops affect beer?

A
I know that wine grapes grown near eucalyptus trees can pick up enough eucalyptus oil to impart the aroma to wine. So it is does seem possible in theory that hops grown
Response by Ashton Lewis.