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By Dan Wheat - Capital Press
Germany usually leads the United States as the world's top hop producer, but drought switch that around in 2015.
MOXEE, Wash. — For only the third time in the past 10 years, the United States bested Germany to lead the world in hop production last year, according to a final 2015 report by Hop Growers of America in Moxee.
The U.S. — overwhelmingly Washington, Oregon and Idaho — produced 80.2 million pounds of hops which was 42 percent of the world production, compared to Germany at 62.2 million pounds and 33 percent, according to the report.
The U.S. topped Germany in 2013 and 2009, but otherwise Germany has led since 2006. Taken as a whole, Europe always produces about half the world’s hops. After Europe and the U.S., China is the other main producer ranging from 6 to 16 percent.
Oil from hop cones is used for flavoring and stabilizing beer.
2015 was a tough year because of drought in Europe where rain, not irrigation, mostly waters the crop, said Ann George, executive director of Hop Growers of America and the Washington Hop Commission. It was a difficult year for aroma varieties in Washington’s Yakima Valley because of drought and extreme heat early in the growing season during critical cone development, she said.
Total world hop production was 190.4 million pounds in 2015, down from 208.1 million in 2014 but greater than 178.4 million in 2013. The record in the past 10 years was 245 million in 2008.
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Germany usually leads the United States as the world's top hop producer, but drought switch that around in 2015.
MOXEE, Wash. — For only the third time in the past 10 years, the United States bested Germany to lead the world in hop production last year, according to a final 2015 report by Hop Growers of America in Moxee.
The U.S. — overwhelmingly Washington, Oregon and Idaho — produced 80.2 million pounds of hops which was 42 percent of the world production, compared to Germany at 62.2 million pounds and 33 percent, according to the report.
The U.S. topped Germany in 2013 and 2009, but otherwise Germany has led since 2006. Taken as a whole, Europe always produces about half the world’s hops. After Europe and the U.S., China is the other main producer ranging from 6 to 16 percent.
Oil from hop cones is used for flavoring and stabilizing beer.
2015 was a tough year because of drought in Europe where rain, not irrigation, mostly waters the crop, said Ann George, executive director of Hop Growers of America and the Washington Hop Commission. It was a difficult year for aroma varieties in Washington’s Yakima Valley because of drought and extreme heat early in the growing season during critical cone development, she said.
Total world hop production was 190.4 million pounds in 2015, down from 208.1 million in 2014 but greater than 178.4 million in 2013. The record in the past 10 years was 245 million in 2008.
READ MORE HERE