• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • About Craft Brewing Business

Craft Brewing Business

Professional Insight, Unfiltered

Craft Brewing Business Craft Brewing Business
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment & Systems
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • COVID-19

Hop report: Low yields in 2014, record acreage for 2015

January 28, 2015Chris Crowell

American_Hops_Conference

The United States’ hop growers did their part in 2014 to keep up with the increased demand for hops used in craft beer. Growers produced more hops than any time in the past five years. Yields were down and prices continue to rise according to a new report from Hop Growers of America released during its annual conference in San Diego.

Although U.S. growers planted an additional 3,600 acres of hops in 2014, the yields dropped by 4.79 percent. An unseasonably hot July in the Pacific Northwest resulted in lighter cones and yields in some varieties that were down as much as 40 percent, said Douglas MacKinnon, CEO of 47 Hops, an international hops brokerage firm in Yakima, Wash.

“In 2015, there’s no margin for error for hops growers,” MacKinnon said. “The hop acreage increased by 10 percent in 2014, but the craft beer industry grew by 20 percent. Growers worldwide can’t plant hops fast enough to keep up with demand.”

Among the highlights of the report:

  • The Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon and Idaho) harvested 98 percent of all commercially grown hops in the United States.
  • The 38,011 acres planted in 2014 was the most since 2009 (39,726 acres). With an additional 5,000 acres set to come online in 2015, acreage is expected to surpass the all-time record of 40,898 acres of hops planted in 2008.
  • Although alpha hop acreage continues to come out at a record pace, CTZ continues to be the king of the U.S. hop varieties, making up 23 percent of the hops planted. Cascade was second at 16.6 percent.
  • Today, Germany is the world’s top alpha producer, owning 44 percent of the market. The U.S. is second at 39 percent. It was less than a decade ago when those roles were reversed.
  • The top countries from which the U.S. imported hops: Germany, United Kingdom and Australia.

MacKinnon said the majority of the 2015 hop crop has already been contracted by merchants for their brewery customers. Any brewers trying to purchase hops for 2015 risk the whims of the spot market. The additional hop acreage being planted for 2015 will help meet demand, but the crop is always dependent upon the weather and myriad other factors before it’s available.

“At the end of the day, agriculture is never a guaranteed bet, even though it may be more stable now than ever in history,” said MacKinnon, the former executive director of Hop Growers of America. “Growers are at the mercy of Mother Nature. A freak hailstorm in June and we could be in a short situation overnight.”

Check out the full report.

Hop Products Australia
Hop Products Australia reports total yield is down, but Galaxy grows for 11th straight year
Huge hop news: CSU scientist uses LEDs to show hops don’t need a dormant period
hop crosby farm alone
Details on the new high-yield aroma hop variety, Triumph, released by the USDA-ARS
Hop Growers of America releases 2018 statistical report; here are the biggest takeaways

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jspeedymorris22 says

    January 28, 2015 at 4:06 pm

    “Hop report: Low yields in 2014, record acreage for 2015” http://t.co/jkaeoo4Ntv http://t.co/c8xV44oWBV

    Log in to Reply
  2. Jared Read says

    January 28, 2015 at 1:37 pm

    Jared Read liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  3. GP_Analytics says

    January 28, 2015 at 1:34 pm

    #hop yields can be unpredictable – http://t.co/6rytUdthUf – see how our tools can help with long term hop contracts – #craftbeer #beer

    Log in to Reply
  4. farmcloverhill says

    January 28, 2015 at 1:14 pm

    RT @CraftBrewingBiz: Hop report: Low yields in 2014, record acreage for 2015 http://t.co/56JQddWg2e Good insight from @47Hops

    Log in to Reply
  5. Henrique De Luca says

    January 28, 2015 at 12:52 pm

    Henrique De Luca liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  6. RoundTableHops says

    January 28, 2015 at 12:31 pm

    RT @CraftBrewingBiz: Hop report: Low yields in 2014, record acreage for 2015 http://t.co/56JQddWg2e Good insight from @47Hops

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • State of California Craft Beer: Covid recovery challenged by competition, consolidation
  • MicroStar Logistics launches Network Services Division to manage reusable plastic pallets for the beer Industry
  • Analyst speculates on Heineken acquiring Boston Beer, stock jumps
  • United States Bartenders’ Guild now has access to WOTVS Hospitality Assistance Program

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • CCBA California Craft Beer SummitState of California Craft Beer: Covid recovery challenged by competition, consolidation
    March 23, 2023
  • Koga-brothers-karben4Karben4 Brewing to relaunch Ale Asylum brand
    March 20, 2023
  • 4 steps to understanding the filtration process in craft beer
    March 20, 2023
  • newbelgium_2023_wildnectar-shopping-basket_family_IMG_2Beyond beer: Examples of craft breweries exploring canned cocktails
    March 16, 2023
  • brooklyn 35 featureBrooklyn Lager turns 35 and more beers to know this week
    March 14, 2023
  • Backwoods Brewing to open a 19-acre resort called Party Acres in the Columbia River gorge this May
    March 13, 2023

Footer

  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Craft Brewing Business
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise on Craft Brewing Business
  • Media Kit Download
  • Privacy and Terms

© 2023 · CBB Media LLC