Production of hops in England 1944 - 1945

Just for a change, nothing about AK today. Instead I'm back to WW II.

My recently arrived 1946 Brewers' Almanack might have disappointed me in terms of the details of wartime brewing restrictions. It did deliver in other ways. Such as this breakdown of the size and output of England's different hop-producing regions.

Hop growing was concentrated in a few locations, mostly in the Southeast. Only eight counties produced any hops at all. And three of those only grew tiny amounts.

No shock that Kent had by far the largest acreage, just over 50% of the total, and produced the most hops, almost 60% of the total. Within Kent, the Weald was number one, followed by Mid-Kent and East Kent.

Sussex, one county West of Kent was also a major player, coming third after Kent and Hereford. Harveys to this day buys all its hops from Sussex growers.

Hereford is a funny one. It had the second biggest output and was way ahead of number three, Worcester. Yet I can't recall it ever popping up in brewing records. While Worcester does appear with great regularity. I'm guessing that hops from the two counties were lumped together under the name Worcester.

Surrey may have grown relatively few hops, but they were top quality. Considered the equal if the best East Kents.

Brewers would have been happy with the 1945 harvest, which was 11% greater than in 1944. With no hops being imported, the 1945 crop would have to keep them going through 1946.

Production of hops in England 1944 - 1945
Counties, etc.	Acreage Returned in June		Estimated Average Yield per acre			Estimated Total Production
	1944	1945	Average of Ten Years 1935-1944	1944	1945	1944	1945
	acres	acres	cwt.	cwt.	cwt.	cwt.	cwt.
Kent—
East	2,075	2,087	16.9	14.8	15.4	30,700	32,100
Mid	3,280	3,423	15.5	14.3	15.9	46,800	54,400
Weald	5,594	5,650	14.4	13.3	14.7	74,500	83,100
Total Kent	10,949	11,160	15.2	13.9	15.1	152,000	169,600
Hants	600	636	13.8	13.6	15.4	8,100	9,800
Surrey	106	112	12.6	10.1	12.5	1,100	1,400
Sussex	1,845	1,900	14.6	13.8	12.7	25,500	24,200
Hereford	4,148	4,224	12	10.8	12.5	44,700	52,900
Worcester	1,902	1,925	12	11.5	12.7	21,900	24,400
Berkshire and Salop	53	52	12.8	11.8	10.9	600	600
Total	19,603	20,009	14.1	13	14.1	253,900	282,900
Source:
1946 Brewers' Almanack, page 92.