A new ale that supports struggling British hop growers as demand for their crops falls goes on sale this weekend.
In recent years, the demand for British hops has fallen as brewers have responded to the boom in US-styled craft beers and relied on imported hops instead. Varieties from the US, New Zealand and eastern Europe are favoured by many microbreweries for the stronger flavours they can produce, and hop farmers and merchants fear it could mean the end of the industry in the UK.
The worrying decline has prompted the British Hop Association (BHA)to urge UK brewers to support regional hop growers. Tesco said it will now become the first supermarket to carry the BHA’s logo on a new own-label beer called Single Hopped Kentish Ale which goes on sale this weekend.
The beer, which is produced by award-winning brewers Shepherd Neame, is brewed with one of the country’s most famous hops, East Kent Goldings. It is described as having “distinct smooth taste with malty undertones, enhanced by uplifting botanical hop notes, slightly spicy with delicate herbal aromas.”
Ali Capper of the British Hop Association, who is also a hop grower, said: “The American trend that has led to a worldwide resurgence of interest in craft brewing has been a double-edged sword at home in the UK. The interest in brewing with high quality raw ingredients has helped create jobs in the industry but unfortunately brewers don’t always choose British grown hops. In copying the trend, many British brewers have sought to emulate not only the trend but also the exact beer style. Imports in New World hops have substantially increased in recent years.”
Roger Protz, editor of the Good Beer Guide, added: “It’s good to see a major retailer supporting British hops. Britain remains a major brewing country but hops are struggling as a result of so many brewers embracing hops from the United States and New Zealand. With just 16 hop farms left, the industry is struggling even though new varieties have been developed to create the modern aromas and flavours sought by craft brewers. I hope Tesco’s initiative will increase awareness among drinkers of the complex character British hops give to beer and will encourage more brewers to use our home-grown varieties.”
The National Farmers’ Union welcomed the support for British farming. NFU horticulture and potatoes board chairman Guy Poskitt added:”The UK’s hop growers are rightly proud of the many world class varieties they produce and Tesco’s backing only serves to show how the industry is continuing to grow and to be held in high esteem abroad and at home.”
