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Europe | From today’s perspective, the planting acreage for spring barley in Europe is expected to fall by around five per cent. This is according to the first 2026 Malting Barley Report for Europe, which was published recently.
Energy/Environment
Challenges and opportunities | Two years ago, Holland Malt opened the world’s first 100% emission-free malt house, i.e. complete elimination of all fossil fuel practices. Today, the company reflects on the lessons learned, the challenges overcome, and the opportunities ahead. This pioneering project demonstrates how innovation, collaboration, and adaptive processes can move the brewing and malting industry towards a more sustainable future. Although the project is unique within the industry, many of the insights gained reach far beyond a single company. The obstacles encountered and the solutions developed in this pioneering effort offer the wider industry a preview of what lies ahead – both the difficulties and the opportunities. They also highlight the growing importance of a policy environment that enables energy-intensive industries in Europe to decarbonise while remaining globally competitive.
Raw materials
Hop analytics | The new hybrid aroma hop variety Huell Classic was developed specifically to create a climate-hardy replacement for such classic, now climate-threatened Central European “noble” landraces as Hallertauer Mittelfrüh, Hersbrucker, Spalter, and Tettnanger. Part 1 of this article series (BRAUWELT International no. 1, 2026, pp. 5–7) covered the currently changing environment for hops in Central Europe and the breakthrough work of the Hop Research Center to combat it. This second part examines in greater detail the analytics of the new Huell Classic and its uses in the brewhouse.
Raw materials
New variety | The new hop aroma variety “Nobella” from Hopsteiner combines a classic, traditional noble hop flavour with consistent alpha acid levels and reliable performance under today’s climate conditions, bridging tradition and future requirements in aroma hop breeding.
Raw materials
Argentina | Over the past decade, Argentina’s hop industry has undergone substantial transformation, strongly influenced by the craft beer movement. Historically, Argentine hop production was closely tied to the needs of large industrial breweries. However, the exponential rise of craft beer has reshaped the landscape, creating new challenges and opportunities for growers, suppliers, and brewers alike. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of hop production, import trends, and market allocation in Argentina between 2014 and 2024, comparing them with developments in the United States and other mature brewing markets.
Raw materials
Fighting climate change | The German Hopfenforschungszentrum (Hop Research Center) in Hüll, Bavaria, has released a new hybrid aroma hop called Huell Classic. Registered with German and European Union food safety authorities as H17107, it was purposefully developed during more than a decade of genetic marker-guided breeding, as well as selections in greenhouses and trial plots. The objective was to create a climate-hardy replacement of such classic, now climate-threatened Central European landraces as Hallertauer Mittelfrüh, Hersbrucker, Spalter, and Tettnanger.
Raw materials
Alpha acid values | The 2025 hop harvest has now officially come to an end. The Arbeitsgruppe Hopfenanalyse or AHA (Hop Analysis Working Group) has announced the mean alpha acid values determined in freshly harvested hops.
Raw materials
Hop aroma | Hops contribute significantly to beer aroma through a variety of known aroma substances, with free thiols having the lowest odour threshold values. These thiols, particularly those associated with fruity and citrusy notes, play a key role in the aroma profile of dry-hopped beers.
Raw materials
Limiting quality | Annual quality assessment of malting barley has shown a clear tendency towards reduced protein contents for some years, see part 1 of this article series in BRAUWELT International, No. 4, 2025, pp. 206–209. The value-added chain will probably have to accept lower protein contents in malting cereals in the long term. What would technological approaches for processing low protein contents look like?
Raw materials
Climate-tolerant hop varieties | This article focusses on a holistic, neutral overview of a selection of new aroma hop varieties from publicly subsidised hop research and private hop breeding. It is important to carry out adequate tests in breweries in order to maintain the aroma profiles of existing beers and to continue to offer customers a consistent quality.
Raw materials
Dynamic fermentation system | Non-alcoholic beers can be produced by dynamic fermentation using units like Poseidon and crabtree-negative yeasts. Targeted adjustments to recirculation and sedimentation processes in the fermentation tank make it possible to achieve high quality in the beers produced and increase the efficiency of individual processes.
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BRAUWELT on tour
Current issue
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BRAUWELT on tour
