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06-07-2013, 08:10
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Bit of a change of pace today. I'm extracting my head from the past's arse to look at the present. Or the near past.

You may have noticed that I've been collecting hop statistics. Mostly from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But I thought it was time to have a gander at the last couple of decades. I must admit that I was shocked.

I'd heard about the decline in UK hop growing, but until I saw the firgures for the last 30 years, I hadn't realised just how catastrophic that decline had been.

Between 1955 and 1970, UK hop production averaged just under 250,000 cwt. per year. Which was a little more than required for British brewing - an average of just under 210,000 cwt. 1955 - 1969. Britain was more than self-sufficient in hops and was able to export the surplus. Though the amount exported declined from just under 50,000 cwt. to just under 10,000 cwt between 1955 and 1969.




Average UK hop production


years
cwt


1955-1970
238,718


1971-1980
180,729


1981-1990
132,810


1991-2000
78,254


2000-2009
33,702


Sources:


Statistical Handbook of the British Beer and Pub Association 2011, page 20.


1971 Brewers'Almanack, page 54



There was a slight decline in production in the period 1971 to 1980, when it averaged 180,000 cwt. That's when things started going badly wrong. Between 1981 and 1990 the average was down to 132,000 cwt. 1991 to 2000 the average was just 78,000 cwt. And for 2001 to 2009 a meagre 33,000 cwt. That's way less than the amount needed by British brewers. The UK hads gone from being a net exporter to a big net importer in a couple of decades.




UK hop production, imports and exports 1955 - 1969



UK production
Imports: Less Re-Exports
Exports: British Hops
Consumption Years ended 30th Sept. following


Year
Cwts.
Cwts.
Cwts.
Cwts.


1955
256,821
5,836
49,049
218,820


1956
184,170
6,416
40,746
215,114


1957
267,677
8,848
38,635
208,870


1958
302,640
5,441
42,352
226,371


1959
222,768
6,007
34,291
234,611


1960
248,195
8,172
12,220
234,611


1961
204,306
19,235
24,914
226,437


1962
266,812
16,489
16,070
234,611


1963
276,384
10,063
21,790
226,437


1964
252,398
12,624
24,181
226,565


1965
258,727
12,961
19,474
237,356


1966
228,923
10,767
18,673
236,424


1967
215,025
10,165
2,709
207,249


1968
199,205
12,040
2,286
198,029


1969
209,543
11,401
8,543
186,103


Source:


1971 Brewers'Almanack, page 54



Britain is no longer a serious hop producer, at least in world terms. How very sad. Now I just need to understand why so few hops are currently grown in Britain.

Here are the full figures:




UK hop production 1955 - 2009


Year
Cwts.
Year
Cwts.
Year
Cwts.


1955
256,821
1975
156,954
1995
101,979


1956
184,170
1976
142,180
1996
88,108


1957
267,677
1977
184,414
1997
64,386


1958
302,640
1978
203,247
1998
59,194


1959
222,768
1979
191,909
1999
53,138


1960
248,195
1980
183,838
2000
50,377


1961
204,306
1981
291,109
2001
50,089


1962
266,812
1982
167,473
2002
37,858


1963
276,384
1983
155,497
2003
40,772


1964
252,398
1984
127,883
2004
31,147


1965
258,727
1985
99,814
2005
26,633


1966
228,923
1986
102,161
2006
28,995


1967
215,025
1987
96,755
2007
27,737


1968
199,025
1988
92,897
2008
28,431


1969
209,543
1989
90,182
2009
31,657


1970
226,076
1990
104,326




1971
175,404
1991
93,365




1972
205,649
1992
104,326




1973
200,841
1993
87,392




1974
162,853
1994
80,272




Sources:


"Statistical Handbook of the British Beer and Pub Association 2011", page 20.


1971 Brewers'Almanack, page 54


This is really turning into the Summer of Tables. Blame the bad weather. If it were sunnier, I'd be thinking more of Lager.

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