Czech hop harvest could be 25 percent below average

Czech hop growers expect this year’s harvest to be up to 25 percent below the long-term average, the Hop Growers Association said on Wednesday, adding that prolonged drought and high temperatures are also expected to reduce the crop’s alpha acid content, which determines hop quality.

Only about a quarter of Czech hop fields have irrigation systems, and even some of those lacked enough water this year. The government is planning reservoirs and other measures to improve water supplies in hop-growing areas.

The Czech hop-growing area has fallen slightly this year to about 4,800 hectares, with around 120 growers. About three-quarters of the country’s hop fields are in the Žatec region, home to the main Czech hop variety, Saaz. About 40 percent of Czech hops are used domestically, with the rest exported.