London X Ale hops 1900 - 1915

With the UK’s hop producers unable to cope with brewers’ demands, no surprise that imports are well represented in the table. Though a large majority – 38 out of 52 – were English.

Breaking down the English hops, most were from Kent, with Mid-Kent dominating. Rather fewer from East Kent, but that’s to be expected. That was the source of the best-quality hops, which tended to be reserved for more expensive beers, such as Pale Ales. Second most popular were hops from Worcester, a region more analogous in quality to Mid-Kent. And, finally, a couple of examples from the relatively small district of Sussex.

Top dog amongst the foreign hops was the USA, with 8 examples. Bohemia and Germany managed a couple each. Followed by single examples from Alsace and Belgium. Though I suppose the former was technically part of Germany at the time.

As for age, most were reasonably fresh, never more than a couple of seasons old. With the one massive exception of 10-year-old Alsace hops in the 1906 Barclay Perkins X Ale. You have to wonder what the point was of using such ancient hops.

London X Ale hops 1900 - 1915
Year	Brewer	hop 1	hop 2	hop 3	hop 4	hop 5
1900	Barclay Perkins	MK 1898	MK 1899	Bohemian 1899
1906	Barclay Perkins	MK 1905	US 1904 CS	Worcs. 1904	Alsace 1896
1909	Barclay Perkins	US 1908	Sussex 1908	MK 1907	Worcs. 1905 CS
1914	Barclay Perkins	EK 1913	MK Fuggles 1912 CS	MK Goldings 1913	Hallertau 1912 CS
1900	Whitbread	EK 1898	EK 1899	Worcs. 1897
1905	Whitbread	MK 1903	MK 1904	US 1904	Washington 1904	Worcs. 1903
1910	Whitbread	MK 1909	MK 1909	MK 1909
1914	Whitbread	EK 1912	MK 1912	Kent 1912
1902	Fullers	English 1900	English 1901	Worcs. 1901
1910	Fullers	Oregon 1907	MK 1909	EK 1908
1914	Fullers	MK 1913	Poperinge 1913	Cobbs 1913	Cobbs 1914
1914	Courage	Hallertau 1912	English 1912	English 1914
1900	Truman	Kent 1899	Worcs. 1899
1905	Truman	Worcs. 1904	Worcs. 1904	Sussex 1904
1910	Truman	Worcz. 1908	Oregon 1908	Saaz 1908
1915	Noakes	California 1914	Oregon 1914
Sources:
Barclay Perkins brewing records held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document numbers ACC/2305/1/593, ACC/2305/1/599, ACC/2305/1/601 and ACC/2305/1/603.
Whitbread brewing records held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document numbers LMA/4453/D/01/065, LMA/4453/D/01/070, LMA/4453/D/01/076 and LMA/4453/D/01/079.
Fullers brewing records held at the brewery.
Courage brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number ACC/2305/08/247.
Truman brewing records held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document numbers B/THB/C/181, B/THB/C/186 and B/THB/C/190.
Noakes brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number ACC/2305/17/34.