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26-04-2021, 07:06
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Just for a change, nothing about AK today. Instead I'm back to WW II.My recently arrived 1946 Brewers' Almanack might have disappointed me in terms of the details of wartime brewing restrictions. It did deliver in other ways. Such as this breakdown of the size and output of England's different hop-producing regions.
Hop growing was concentrated in a few locations, mostly in the Southeast. Only eight counties produced any hops at all. And three of those only grew tiny amounts.
No shock that Kent had by far the largest acreage, just over 50% of the total, and produced the most hops, almost 60% of the total. Within Kent, the Weald was number one, followed by Mid-Kent and East Kent.
Sussex, one county West of Kent was also a major player, coming third after Kent and Hereford. Harveys to this day buys all its hops from Sussex growers.
Hereford is a funny one. It had the second biggest output and was way ahead of number three, Worcester. Yet I can't recall it ever popping up in brewing records. While Worcester does appear with great regularity. I'm guessing that hops from the two counties were lumped together under the name Worcester.
Surrey may have grown relatively few hops, but they were top quality. Considered the equal if the best East Kents.
Brewers would have been happy with the 1945 harvest, which was 11% greater than in 1944. With no hops being imported, the 1945 crop would have to keep them going through 1946.
Production of hops in England 1944 - 1945
Counties, etc.
Acreage Returned in June
Estimated Average Yield per acre
Estimated Total Production
1944
1945
Average of Ten Years 1935-1944
1944
1945
1944
1945
acres
acres
cwt.
cwt.
cwt.
cwt.
cwt.
Kent—
East
2,075
2,087
16.9
14.8
15.4
30,700
32,100
Mid
3,280
3,423
15.5
14.3
15.9
46,800
54,400
Weald
5,594
5,650
14.4
13.3
14.7
74,500
83,100
Total Kent
10,949
11,160
15.2
13.9
15.1
152,000
169,600
Hants
600
636
13.8
13.6
15.4
8,100
9,800
Surrey
106
112
12.6
10.1
12.5
1,100
1,400
Sussex
1,845
1,900
14.6
13.8
12.7
25,500
24,200
Hereford
4,148
4,224
12
10.8
12.5
44,700
52,900
Worcester
1,902
1,925
12
11.5
12.7
21,900
24,400
Berkshire and Salop
53
52
12.8
11.8
10.9
600
600
Total
19,603
20,009
14.1
13
14.1
253,900
282,900
Source:
1946 Brewers' Almanack, page 92.
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Just for a change, nothing about AK today. Instead I'm back to WW II.My recently arrived 1946 Brewers' Almanack might have disappointed me in terms of the details of wartime brewing restrictions. It did deliver in other ways. Such as this breakdown of the size and output of England's different hop-producing regions.
Hop growing was concentrated in a few locations, mostly in the Southeast. Only eight counties produced any hops at all. And three of those only grew tiny amounts.
No shock that Kent had by far the largest acreage, just over 50% of the total, and produced the most hops, almost 60% of the total. Within Kent, the Weald was number one, followed by Mid-Kent and East Kent.
Sussex, one county West of Kent was also a major player, coming third after Kent and Hereford. Harveys to this day buys all its hops from Sussex growers.
Hereford is a funny one. It had the second biggest output and was way ahead of number three, Worcester. Yet I can't recall it ever popping up in brewing records. While Worcester does appear with great regularity. I'm guessing that hops from the two counties were lumped together under the name Worcester.
Surrey may have grown relatively few hops, but they were top quality. Considered the equal if the best East Kents.
Brewers would have been happy with the 1945 harvest, which was 11% greater than in 1944. With no hops being imported, the 1945 crop would have to keep them going through 1946.
Production of hops in England 1944 - 1945
Counties, etc.
Acreage Returned in June
Estimated Average Yield per acre
Estimated Total Production
1944
1945
Average of Ten Years 1935-1944
1944
1945
1944
1945
acres
acres
cwt.
cwt.
cwt.
cwt.
cwt.
Kent—
East
2,075
2,087
16.9
14.8
15.4
30,700
32,100
Mid
3,280
3,423
15.5
14.3
15.9
46,800
54,400
Weald
5,594
5,650
14.4
13.3
14.7
74,500
83,100
Total Kent
10,949
11,160
15.2
13.9
15.1
152,000
169,600
Hants
600
636
13.8
13.6
15.4
8,100
9,800
Surrey
106
112
12.6
10.1
12.5
1,100
1,400
Sussex
1,845
1,900
14.6
13.8
12.7
25,500
24,200
Hereford
4,148
4,224
12
10.8
12.5
44,700
52,900
Worcester
1,902
1,925
12
11.5
12.7
21,900
24,400
Berkshire and Salop
53
52
12.8
11.8
10.9
600
600
Total
19,603
20,009
14.1
13
14.1
253,900
282,900
Source:
1946 Brewers' Almanack, page 92.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2021/04/production-of-hops-in-england-1944-1945.html)