United Kingdom: New bittering hop variety to be tested by UK brewers

British brewers’ reliance on imported bittering hops could be about to come to an end, thanks to the development of a new English variety, Brewers’ Guardian reported on March, 1.

The as-yet unnamed dwarf variety is the first to come out of the National Hop Association’s (NHA) breeding programme and is set for a debut tasting by members of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) later this week.

“Currently many bitter hops are imported, particularly by the larger breweries,” said programme director Peter Darby.

“A domestic alternative will appeal to brewers who are interested in the provenance of their ingredients, as well as reducing their food miles. So we’re keen to get an early response from SIBA members.”

In recent years Germany and the US, accounting for two-thirds of global hop cultivation, have cornered the bittering hop market. The two countries and China, the world’s third largest hop-grower, account for 85% of alpha acid production

The development of a viable English bittering variety could transform the country’s hop market, currently focused on aroma hops. Being a dwarf variety, the new hop is hardier and requires fewer pesticides than traditional varieties.

SIBA’s technical director Don Burgess said: “The future of domestic hop farming is a subject close to the hearts of many SIBA brewers, so I’m sure many conference delegates will want to sample the new hop and offer feedback.”

03 March, 2010