A global shift in hop cultivation has led to notable changes in alpha acid production, with Germany significantly increasing its role. According to the BarthHaas Report 2024/25, despite an 8 % decline in world hop acreage (-4,630 hectares), a 4 % yield increase per hectare (1.96 mt in 2023 to 2.04 mt in 2024) resulted in only a 4 % drop in total crop volume (-4,622 mt). At the same time, the average alpha acid content rose from 10.0 % to 10.5 %, driving up the global alpha yield by 1 % (+119 mt).
The report highlights that the share of aroma hops in total crop and alpha production continued to fall, with bitter hops making up the difference. In 2024, bitter hop varieties accounted for 52.6 % of the crop and 62.8 % of total alpha yield, compared to 47.4 % and 55.4 % respectively in 2023.
Germany now leads the global alpha production with a 43 % share, up from 33 % in 2023, while the USA dropped to 41 % from 48 %. Together, both countries contributed 84 % of the global alpha acid volume, compared to 81 % the year before. In the aroma segment, the USA’s share decreased to 57 % (from 60 %), while Germany gained ground at 21 % (up from 17 %). When it comes to bitter hops, Germany produced 56 % of the world’s alpha acids in 2024, a significant increase from 46 %, while the USA’s share fell to 31 % (from 38 %).
The increase in alpha acid concentration was confirmed by the Arbeitsgruppe Hopfenanalyse (AHA), a working group comprised of leading German and European laboratories, including Hallertauer Hopfenveredelungsgesellschaft, Hopfenveredelung St. Johann, HVG Mainburg, LfL Hüll, BLQ Weihenstephan, VLB Berlin, Labor Veritas (Zurich), TU Berlin and IHPS Žalec. Their measurements provide the contractual basis for hop and brewing industry deals containing “alpha clauses”.
These developments underline a continuing trend away from aroma-focused hop varieties toward bitter hop production, a shift that could have lasting implications for brewers worldwide.
