 |
|
2007 hop crop update Much of this update is thanks to Ralph
Olson of Hopunion LLC in Yakima WA. Hop union is a major supplier of hops to
the brewing industry... |
|
|
2007 hop crop update Much of this update is thanks to Ralph
Olson of Hopunion LLC in Yakima WA. Hop union is a major supplier of hops to
the brewing industry... |
For US hops, 2007 is looking like an average
crop, but many varieties came in less than expected.
World acreage:
1986: 215,600
1992: 236,000
2006: 123,000
Ralph's best guess is that in 1992 the acreage should have been between 160,000
- 170,000 if it was to match world demand/usage at that time. The 1990's excess
hop crop ended up being processed into pellets and extracts, building up
substantial excess inventory. Excess production that was many years old was
selling on the open market and as a result brought prices down. Hop prices had
dropped so low in recent years that in many cases they were lower than what it
costs to grow.
High-alpha hops and some aroma hops are going overseas - the high rate of the
Euro is a factor.
In the late 1990's and early 2000's the prices were depressed and growers were
starting to throw in the towel, to either switch to other crops, or sell out to
real estate developers. The ones who stayed in it and managed to survive without
going under are pleased to be in this situation which is 180 degrees opposite
from where it was about 10 years ago.
The demand of craft beer is up 16% alone this year with many of those beers
having high hop requirements.
It takes three years to get full production of a new hop field, however, we
don't have the number of growers needed to put new acres in, the total of US
growers is about 45 , down from more than 2000 in 1978. About 2000 new acres are
going in this year almost all of those are high alpha...
What's the bottom line? Certain varieties are getting more expensive. A few
varieties will run out faster than ever. Brewers have to be willing to try other
varieties. Brewmasters, brewery owners, and marketing and sales managers must
prepare for the potential need to substitute different hops, to replace
varieties that currently give your beers their "signature" flavor. That's what
we'll have to get used to, the fact that there may be slight flavor variations
over the next several years, as the hop industry works to correct this
situation.. It's not going to get better soon, but will be likely just as
bad, or worse, for the crops from 2008 and 2009, in other words, for beers
brewed from now through 2010.
So hops are going to be tight and more expensive for the foreseeable future. Now
is the brewers opportunity to brew with many of the
other fine herbs that can and do flavor beer. Check out mansgarden.com/brewing.html for a good list of plants that are used in
brewing...
Hoppily
Dave Wills
purveyor of fine hops
[Home] [Product Information] [Freshop Varieties]
[Hop Pricing/Ordering][USDA Hop
Descriptions]
[Homebrewing
basics] [Online
Orders]
Freshops |
 |
Freshops developed and
maintained by |
