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Technology
English hop technology as such started with
Reynolde Scott, back in 1574, when he wrote the first definitive
instructions on how hops should be grown. Since then various advances
have been made, most notably in plant breeding to increase the
diversity of varieties grown for brewing.
Our most renowned varieties are Goldings and Fuggles, developed in
the 18th and 19th centuries. Since then, many
new varieties have been bred at Wye College, which remains the centre
of hop breeding worldwide. The breeding programme continues using only
classical techniques to produce hybrid seedlings from which suitable
‘new varieties’ are chosen. There is no genetic manipulation.
New varieties are selected only with brewing in mind, some for
their aromatic character, some for their alpha acid content, and some
for a combination of both. The diversity of varieties grown in the UK
is large; a reflection on the depth of our breeding stock. It is only
in the last few years that brewers have been given the scope to
experiment with individual hop varieties, each one showing its own
distinct character.
The most recent developments have been the new truly dwarfing
varieties, for example First Gold that has been heralded as the best
aroma discovery since Goldings. They are grown in fields that resemble
more a vineyard than a hopyard, but the grower is able to grow them
more competitively. And the results are stunning, with dwarf hops
giving a consistently higher quality, as they can be picked much more
gently than their traditional taller cousins. There are also
considerable ecological benefits from growing dwarf hops.
Hop breeding is the best way to improve varietal resistance to
pests and diseases, and assisting growers in reducing the control
measures required. But hop breeding is crucial in discovering new
varieties to increase the spectrum of hop characters available to
brewers. In the UK, our breeding programme is the envy of the world.
It is funded by the Hop Association of England Ltd in partnership with
government, and in close consultation with the brewers.
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