Lower precipitation during the vegetation period in the main hop-growing areas in Germany have led to a lower yield and a lower content of alpha-acid in this year’s hop crop. Crop estimates for the 2017 crop, which has started four weeks ago, have been lowered despite an increased acreage by 945 hectares, according to today’s market report of hop trading house Eisemann-Hopfen.
As already reported earlier (inside.beer, 5.9.2017), this year’s hop crop in Germany will be around 39,200 tons, which is a decrease of about 8.2% or 3.500 tons in comparison to the year before.
In order to meet existing supply agreements hop growers have to use more raw hops which in turn reduces available hops on the free market. Hops on the spot market is much sought-after and prices have accordingly increased.
Theresa Zieglmeier (23), Bavarian tax office clerk and newly elected hop queen of Hallertau, the largest continuous hop-planting area in the world, will for sure face a harder task than her predecessor Sabrina Schmalhofer, who reigned in a year with the highest German hop crop in 23 years.
