Did you know that at the end of last year, when the number of breweries was climbing steadily past 2,700, hops reached an estimated usage of 1.3 pounds of hops per barrel? And, in terms of contracts, more than 90 percent of all breweries are contracted, some for as little as 88 pounds?
You did? You must have been keeping up with all of our hop features. As if you didn’t already have hops on your mind, this cool hops growing time-lapse video from Hydro Hop Farms LLC also serves as a Craft Brewing Business public service announcement: If you haven’t started talking about your hop needs for next year with your supplier, start today! Many growers base acreage expansions on projected hop needs, as indicated through future contracts. Expansion is extremely expensive for hop farmers and, therefore, essential to understand. So, hop to it. (You know I love the puns.)
