Hop growers estimate harvest will be one-fifth lower, quality will also be worse

Hop growers estimate that this year will be one of the worst in recent years in terms of yields and quality. Compared with the long-term average of 6,000 tonnes, they estimate that the harvest could be up to 20 percent lower. In addition, the crop lacks sufficient alpha bitter acids, which determine its quality. The smaller harvest will not be reflected in the price of beer, because growers have long-term contracts with breweries and hops account for only a small part of the costs of producing the beverage.

Jiří Smetana, chairman of the board of the Czech Hop Growers Association, said this today at the traditional Hop Growers’ Day in Stekník near Žatec.