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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4 comments:
To put things in perspective, the new Barth Haas Hop Report says worldwide hop production in 2024/25 was 118,528 metric tons = 2,370,560 Zentner, with Germany producing more than the US for the first time in a decade. 41% or 971,930 Zentner of that was Germany if I've got my sums right.
Current UK hop production tonnes: 924
Australia: 1,714
New Zealand: 1,250
How have the mighty fallen.
I just recently heard that UK hop production halved in 2023, due to the lack of demand recovery after Covid. I think it was in a podcast.
UK hops are my favourite.
Oscar
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