Glycosidically bound hop polyphenols of the native hard resin fraction and their occurence in hops, hop products, and beer

Research and development | The beer bittering potential of hops apart from iso-alpha-acids can be assigned to phenolic compounds of the native hard resin fraction. Based on taste re-engineering experiments, Dresel et al. demonstrated that the additive contribution of iso-alpha-acids and various isolated hard resin components is necessary for constructing the authentic bitter percept of beer [1].

Barth Haas plant protection expert speaking at WTO session

Unrestricted hop trade | Plant protection regulations must be harmonized internationally if global trade in foods and their ingredients is to function smoothly. This was the demand made by Dr. Reinhold Kugel, Head of Product Safety and Quality Assurance for international hop specialist BarthHaas, at a thematic session held by the SPS Committee of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva on 22 March 2022.

Russian brewers ask for help replacing imported hops

Russia | Although Russia’s hops imports have not yet been affected by Western sanctions, Moscow is becoming increasingly isolated from international trade. This must be the reason why Russian brewers fear they could be cut off from hops supplies.

Helios - Hopsteiner's recent answer to climate change

Hopsteiner Breeding Program | Extreme climatic conditions have had a major impact on fluctuating yields and qualities in recent years. In addition to innovative solutions for water supply, the hop industry needs plants that can adapt to these changes and perform with the available resources.

2021 United States hop crop & hop acreage report

Hop market | On Dec. 17, 2021, the US Department of Agriculture reported that US hop production for 2021, in the States of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon increased 11% yielding 115.6 million pounds vs 103.8 million pounds for 2020. Total acreage increased 4% to 60 872 acres, from 58 641 acres in 2020. The hop yield per acre for 2021 was 1900 pounds per acre vs. 1770 pounds per acre in 2020. Washington State produced 73% of the crop followed by Idaho at 16% and Oregon at 11%.

"Hop creep" - soon more predictable?

Technical Support | The hop creep phenomenon is caused by the introduction of diastatic enzymes via dry hopping. Such hop enzymes are converting unfermentable real extract into fermentable sugars. In the presence of active yeast this may lead to unwanted secondary fermentation of beer followed by uncontrolled increase in diacetyl, alcohol, and carbon dioxide.

Changes in Top Management at BarthHaas

Management changes | At the end of 2021, BarthHaas completed the final step in the transition from an owner-managed to an owner-controlled company, which will see the Barth family moving onto a supervisory board and the appointment of two new managing directors. Oliver Bergner and Peter Hintermeier, both long-serving members of the management team, will take over as managing directors of BarthHaas GmbH & Co. KG.

Variations in hop aroma depending on crop year

Technical Support | We are pleased to share some averaged data on last year’s composition of aroma substances of some selected hop varieties. This statistic is intended as a helpful indication to achieve consistent hop aroma in beer, especially when changing from one crop year to another.

Xanthohumol as a potent inhibitor for SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses

Company news | After the outbreak of Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), intensive research on potential inhibitors of the viral pathogen SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2) started worldwide. Since the beginning of last year, hundreds of scientific papers have been published on this topic. Thousands of compounds were screened for their inhibitory effects against coronaviruses.

Kalsec expands its advanced hop solutions with Lupulock™

Hop solutions | Kalsec®, a global producer of natural taste and sensory solutions and advanced hop solutions for the food and beverage industry, recently launched Lupulock™ Encapsulated Hop Oils, a natural alternative to hop cones and pellets that enables brewers to accelerate production and reduce waste while delivering consistent, authentic flavors and aromas, together with their partner, privately owned perfume and taste company Firmenich.

Guidelines for Hop Buying 2021

Hopmarket |The Hopsteiner Guidelines for Hop Buying 2021 have been completed and are now available on our homepage www.hopsteiner.com/de.

Yakima Chief Hops Celebrates 5th Anniversary of Pink Boots Blend

Yakima Chief Hops | Yakima Chief Hops (YCH), a 100% farmer-owned global hop supplier, is pleased to announce the pre-sale of their 5th Annual Pink Boots Blend in partnership with Pink Boots Society (PBS). PBS is an international nonprofit with a mission to assist, inspire, and encourage women in the fermented and alcoholic beverage industry.

Crop and market update & hop crop 2021 estimate

Hop market |The crop estimate for the Hallertau was announced on August 25st, meaning that crop 2021 estimates have now been submitted for all German hop growing areas.

11th BrewingScience Hop Special - Call for papers

On 17 December 2021, the 11th Hop Special will be published in BrewingScience. Manuscripts can be submitted as of now, editorial deadline is 17 September 2021.

Hop acreage 2018 – 2020

Hop Market | The survey of hop acreage in 2021 is completed. Enclosed please find the comparison of acreage from 2018 to 2021 for the world's main producing areas.

Research and Development - Report 2020

Hops have been known for centuries as a cultivated and medicinal plant. The numerous possibilities of applications in the brewing process and also the use of its antibacterial and even anticarcinogenic properties in completely different areas inspire us and are the driving force behind numerous research and development activities in our group of companies.

Natural hop solution for lightstruck in beer

Natural solution | IFast NV, a biotech company dedicated to the organoleptic and functional properties of food and drinks, has developed an innovative hop-based technology that provides a natural solution to the light taste in beer, also known as lightstruck, and which does not affect the organoleptic (bitter) properties of the beer.

Hop Products Australia completes 2021 hop harvest

Australian crop report | Hop Products Australia (HPA), Australian representative of the Barth Haas group, have completed the 2021 hop harvest. They picked 675 hectares across their three farms, which resulted in 1,526 metric tonnes of hops. This was a 44 hectare (6.9 %) net increase and a 25 metric tonne (1.6 %) decrease year-on-year across the six proprietary varieties Eclipse®, Ella™, Enigma®, Galaxy®, Topaz™ and Vic Secret™ as well as Cascade.

The antimicrobial effects of hops

Technical Support | Hops “keep away certain putrefactions from beverages.” – a statement written by Hildegard von Bingen, in the herbal book “Physica“ from the 12th century [1]. In today’s language, this is equivalent to describing an antimicrobial effect that has been observed for centuries, not only in beer production but also beyond the brewing industry, primarily when gram-positive bacteria must be controlled or inhibited in biochemical processing, as feed additives or food applications.

Update on EBC methods related to craft beer

Technical support | When compared to regular hop addition during wort boiling, late and especially dry hopping make the composition of beer more complex and diverse, which requires additional analytical methods. For this purpose, two new methods are now recommended by the European Brewery Convention (EBC). At the same time, the precision values given for BU (Bitterness Units) measurement have been updated. They now cover also higher ranges as typical to dry-hopped beer.

Czech hop production 2020

Slight decrease | According to the report from the Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture from December 2020, the total hop production reached 5925 tons in the Czech Republic in 2020. The table provides an overview of the hop production in all Czech hop growing regions – Saaz, Auscha and Tirschitz. The average yield for all hop varieties grown in the Czech Republic was 1.19 t per hectare. The decrease in production compared to 2019 was caused by a very dry July and warm August climate together with severe windstorms and hails storms during the vegetation.

Research on downy mildew resistance

Technical Support | Downy mildew in hops, usually called peronospora, is caused by Pseudoperonospora humuli and can lead to considerable losses in quality and yield due to weather conditions. For this reason, Dr. Alexander Feiner conducted a study on resistance to downy mildew in hops as part of his doctoral thesis in cooperation with the IPB in Halle (Saale) and the IPK in Gatersleben.

2020 United States Hop Production Down & Hop Acreage Up

Technical Support | On Dec. 22, 2020, the US Department of Agriculture reported that US hop production for 2020 decreased 7% from last year, yielding 104 million pounds down from 2019’s record yield of 112 million pounds. Acreage increased in Washington by 1388 acres, in Idaho by 910 acres but decreased in Oregon by 202 acres with an overall increase of 3%. Washington State produced 71% of the hop crop, Idaho 17% and Oregon 12%. The overall hop yield per acre was 1,770 pounds down 211 pounds from last year.

Variations in hop aroma depending on crop year

Technical Support | As usual in December, we are pleased to share some data of the hops’ compositions
which is important to achieve consistent hop aroma in beer, especially when changing
from one crop year to another.

Biotransformation to enhance hop flavor and aroma

A new enzyme formulation | Biotransformation is a buzzword nowadays in brewing. It is defined as “the chemical modification made by the interaction of two ingredients used in brewing: yeast and hops”. Brewing yeast produce different enzymes during fermentation that can play a role in biotransformation with the release of aromatic compounds. Lallemand Brewing, Montreal, Canada, in addition to the characterization of its yeast portfolio with regards these specific enzymatic activities, just released ABV Aromazyme, an enzyme preparation with a strong β-glucosidase activity.

BarthHaas: 2020 global beer output may decline up to 14 percent

Germany | Per its modelling, the global supplier of hop products, BarthHaas, estimates that this year global beer output could drop between 8 percent and 14 percent over 2019 because of the covid-19 pandemic.

Yakima Chief Hops showcases new commercial hop Talus

Collaboration with European Breweries | Yakima Chief Hops, Yakima, USA, a 100 % farmer owned global hop supplier, has teamed up with some of the leading breweries across Europe to help launch Talus™ HBC 692, the newly named hop from the Hop Breeding Company, developed in part by Yakima Chief Ranches.

Hop acreage 2017-2020

2020 Crop Report: HPA record a 5.5% increase in hop production volume

Hop Products Australia | After more than a month of cutting, picking, drying, pressing, pelletising and packaging, the numbers are in. Hop Products Australia, North Hobart, Australia (HPA) harvested 631 hectares across its three farms in 2020, which resulted in a production volume of 1,554 metric tonnes.

Hopsteiner Lotus Room IPA – Results