Galena was bred in 1968 from an open pollination of an unknown male with Brewers Gold. Released in 1978, it continues to enjoy success as a multipurpose high-alpha variety. Given its high alpha and crop yield, Galena is most often found as a classic bittering hop, in much the same vein as Nugget and its descendants. But it is sometimes employed as a finishing hop. It has a mild to moderate character, with a surprisingly pleasant tropical citrus quality. Galena can also have a slightly ‘rustic’ edge which belies its Brewers Gold ancestry.