Hop Industry Explodes - the Craft Brew Revolution

Some of may think we know a lot about beer but we don't know nearly as much about it as Tim Kostelecky, John I Haas' Technical Services Manager.  Tim has spent his 39+ year career in the industry and told our club a great story about how the local hops industry is booming due to our passion for IPAs and other hoppy beverages. 

 

Craft brewers are popping up across the country and taking market share from the mega breweries.  They now account for 14 percent of domestic market share and exports are surging.  For the hop industry this is huge.   Craft brewers can use 10 times the amount of hops in their pale ales and IPAs compared to a Miller or Budweiser.

 

The brewing renaissance has also fueled big changes in hop production.  The craft brewer wants aroma hops, the varieties that impart nose and flavor to an ale.  Bitter hops, the former mainstay for brewers are less popular.  There has also been an explosion in development of new hop varieties.  Citra, Mosaic and are just a few new hop cones entering the market today.  Craft brewers are now also working hand in hand with hop growers to perfect unique varieties that give their ales a unique signature.  Fremont Ales offers a pale ale with Cowiche Canyon hops.  I recently had a Citra IPA.

 

It's refreshing to see good ale and beer choices proliferate.  Before prohibition smaller pubs and breweries were common in America.  They offered places where the community could mix and enjoy a locally crafted ale.  They didn't drive automobiles back then though... so just remember to drink responsibly.