Hop Cultivation: When is Hop Harvested?

Hops cannot be grown everywhere! This demanding plant can only be cultivated in specific regions of the world. The essential requirements include good soil (loose and well-drained) and a suitable climate (long daylight hours).

As a result, only regions between the 35th and 55th parallels are suitable for hop cultivation. During the flowering period, hops require long days and an ideal climate to achieve perfect flower formation. These regions not only provide the optimal conditions for growth but also ensure that the hop cones develop their full aroma and bitterness, which are crucial for the brewing process.

The geographical location of these growing areas is crucial to the quality of the hops. The combination of soil composition, climate, and tradition in hop cultivation allows growers to produce high-quality raw materials every year. These regions have established themselves as the most important hop-growing areas over the centuries, and their significance for global beer production remains unchallenged.

Hop Harvest – 2023 Harvest Dates in Germany by Variety

It should be noted that the following dates are merely guidelines. The actual harvest times (ripeness) of the varieties vary from region to region and from year to year. In the following table, you can see the "predicted" harvest times for the individual varieties. The exact harvest time depends on factors such as weather, soil moisture, and plant health, which present a new challenge for growers every year.

• Hall. Mittelfrüher – August 30-31
• Northern Brewer (Nordbrauer) – September 1-2
• Hall. Tradition, Opal – September 2-3
• Perle, Saphir – September 4-6
• Hall. Taurus, Spalter Select, Titan – September 7-9
• Hall. Magnum – September 8-10
• Hersbrucker, Polaris, Smaragd – September 10-12
• Hall. Blanc, Tango – September 12-14
• Herkules, Diamant – September 12-15
• Callista, Diamant – September 14-16
• Hüll Melon – September 16-18
• Ariana – September 20-22
• Nugget, Mandarina Bavaria – September 22-25

(Source: Information taken from Hopfenbau-Ringfax No. 44, August 25, 2023)

The grower's goal is to determine the best harvest time to achieve the maximum alpha yield/raw hop yield per hectare. The right time directly impacts the quality of the hops, as the concentration of bitter and aromatic substances in the cones must reach their peak at the time of harvest.

Additionally, growers may adjust the harvest time due to the threat of disease and/or pests. Weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall or extremely hot periods, also influence the optimal harvest time, making flexibility in planning essential.

Other external factors, such as heavy rainfall, could cause the harvest time to be delayed by a few days. In such cases, the heavy rain fills the soil with water, preventing machinery from accessing the hop fields and ultimately delaying the harvest.

Hop Harvest – Harvest Times in Other Countries

August to September

• USA
• Central Europe
• United Kingdom
• China

March to April

• Australia
• New Zealand
• South Africa

The harvest time varies worldwide depending on the climate and geographical location. While the harvest takes place in late summer in the northern latitudes, it occurs in spring in southern regions. Each region faces its own challenges regarding weather and growing conditions, making the care and harvest of hops a demanding task.

Now let's look at the global hop-growing areas. The following table shows the countries and their cultivation areas in hectares (ha), listed in descending order:

• USA – 24,758.00 ha
• Germany – 20,604.60 ha
• Czech Republic – 4,942.60 ha
• China – 2,423.90 ha
• Poland – 1,728.10 ha
• Slovenia – 1,625.70 ha
• New Zealand – 1,400.00 ha
• Australia – 919.20 ha
• France – 672.50 ha
• United Kingdom – 655.20 ha
• South Africa – 404.50 ha

Total = 60,134.30 ha

The worldwide hop-growing area for the 2023 harvest amounted to 62,801.70 ha. The countries listed above account for 60,134.30 ha, representing about 95.8% of global cultivation. Most of these areas are located in traditional growing regions in the northern hemisphere, but countries like New Zealand and Australia are playing an increasingly important role in the global hop market.

The global percentage of aroma hops was 59.5%.

The percentage of bitter hops was 40.5% accordingly.

(Source: Figures taken from the Barthhaas Report 2022/2023, pp. 10-11)

Fun Fact

You may have noticed that varieties like "Hallertau Taurus" or "Hallertauer Tradition" have the word "Hallertau" or "Hallertauer" in front of them. This is actually the name of the variety and does not necessarily refer to the actual growing region of the variety. When purchasing hops, please pay attention to the international ISO codes for the growing regions. Below are the codes for Germany:

• DEX = Germany (unspecified)
• DEH = Germany Hallertau
• DET = Germany Tettnang
• DES = Germany Spalt
• DEE = Germany Elbe-Saale