Monday, 4 August 2025

World hop production 1898 - 1899

A Zatec 10º Vycepni Pivo Svetle label with a background of ears of barley and the text "Lounsko-Zatecke Pivovary Narodni Podnik Louny" and "Pivovar Zatec".
You should know me by now. I love numbers. All numbers related to beer and brewing. Hops are no exception. And that's we're looking at today

Hops are a very fussy crop. And can be grown successfully in far fewer locations than barley. As can be seen in the table. Where the whole world's supply comes from just nine countries, seven of them in Europe. And 90% cane from just four countries: the Germany, Austria, the UK and the USA.

But hop-growing was even more concentrated than that. In England, hops weren't grown in most of the country. Around three-quarters were grown in Either Kent or Hereford and Worcester. Similarly, most of Austria's hops came from Saaz, Auscha or Dauba: all parts of Bohemia. In Germany, the lion's share was grown in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg or Alsace. And, by this time, the US hop industry had mostly moved to the West Coast.

What is the current situation? Germany and the USA continue to produce a considerable proportion of the world's hops. While the English hop industry has collapsed to a mere shadow of its former self. Which is rather sad. And I doubt that it will ever return to its former position.

A centner (Zentner in German) is 50 kg. 

World hop production 1898 - 1899
  1898 1899 1898 1899
Germany centners.  centners. % %
Bavaria  262,000 300,000    
Wurtemburg  69,000 80,000    
Baden  30,000 40,000    
Alsace  63,000 90,000    
Prussia 13,000 40,000    
Total 437,000 550,000 28.66% 28.06%
Austria        
Saaz 70,000 120,000    
Auscha 55,000 70,000    
Dauba 20,000 20,000    
Galicia 12,000 25,000    
Steinmark 8,000 10,000    
Upper Austria  8,000 10,000    
Mahren-Karntheim 8,000 10,000    
Total 181,000 265,000 11.87% 13.52%
Other Countries        
Russia 65,000 70,000 4.26% 3.57%
Belgium and Holland 36,000 70,000 2.36% 3.57%
France 36,000 40,000 2.36% 2.04%
England 357,000 500,000 23.41% 25.51%
America 400,000 450,000 26.23% 22.96%
Australia 13,000 15,000 0.85% 0.77%
Total 907,000 1,145,000 59.48% 58.42%
Grand Total 1,525,000 1,960,000    
Source:
The Brewers' Journal vol. 35 1899, October 15th 1899, pages 553 - 554.

 

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