UK Hops
Sex! That’s what’s going on in the UK hop yards at the moment. Jealous? Me too, for it’s not your hop suppliers who are having all the fun, no, the hop plants are the ones doing that. Hops are dioecious, which means that there are separate male and female plants (most flowers have the male and female bits on the same plant). The males are grown amongst the fruit bearing females in the ratio of approximately 1/1000; the produce is described as “seeded”.

Seedless hops are grown without male plants and are in burr for longer, which makes them more susceptible to disease. Many international brewers insist that the presence of seed is undesirable (usually with no explanation) on the grounds that oxidation of the seed fat can give rise to rancid flavours or that the seed fat can be detrimental to head retention. There is no experimental evidence to support these objections but the hop trade outside the UK continues to promote derogatory information about seeded hops. There is even a regulation in Germany that requires all wild hops to be cut down or where possible grubbed, by 15th June at the latest! Despite this, craft brewers world-wide are using more and more quantities of Great British hops and achieving flavours and aromas previously only experienced in the UK

Growing UK hops in 2002
The summer has come and nearly gone again. The hop pockets and bale cloths have been delivered to the farms and we are preparing for another harvest. Despite the extraordinary ups and downs of the weather (wet winter, hot and dry April, cold, wet, miserable May/June and a few days summer in July) the hops have survived it all and look well, although it is still too early to know what the crop will be like indications suggest an average to low yield. Let’s hope for a bit more sunshine!

USA Hops
The long cool spring had growers a little worried with hops looking a little backward but things swung into action with a very long hot July. Temperatures have now dropped back to more bearable levels (32 - 35ºC in the day, 10 - 15ºC at night) and the crop is looking well. Due to shortages of Cascades last year growers have planted a few more for us and these are establishing well in their first year. (See photo)

NEW ZEALAND 2002 CROP
The 2002 Crop is harvested in May down under, and our supplies were packed and shipped and arrived here mid July. They included the usual varieties, Pacific Gem & Green Bullet and more than ever organic Hallertau Aroma. This year for the first time we have also purchased a new variety to us NZ Saaz B. With Alpha at 8.5%, I am sure this will provide an interesting addition to our list.