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Shut up about Barclay Perkins - The collapse of UK hop growing
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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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