Hop Acreage Increase Expected, Nearly Double Size of Five Years Ago

Acreage for hop production is expected to increase nearly 5,200 acres in 2017 which would bring the total to 58,148 acres, or nearly twice as much as just five years ago.

Data shows that beer production is down, but that doesn’t appear to impact hops though it is concerning some in the industry who worry about balance between varieties and consumer tastes.

Ann George, Executive Director of Hop Growers of America says, “The U.S. acres added in the last 5 years is larger than the total acreage of any other hop-growing country in the world, outside of our own and Germany, the two largest hop-producing countries.” The increase in acreage this year is more than the production of any country outside of the U.S., Germany and Czech Republic.

Stocks are also increasing of hops with data showing more are being held by merchants and not brewers than has been historically.

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