The hop yards of the Midlands of England produce more than half of the hops grown in the UK, but most of our beer drinkers are unaware that they exist. The brewers of Herefordshire and Worcestershire will come together in the Autumn of 2013 to proudly boast that the hops on our doorstep and the growers who produce them are the best in the world.
British hop varieties – from the venerable Fuggle and Goldings to the newcomers Sovereign and First Gold with many others besides – give the signature aroma and flavour of British beer. They define traditional beer styles and can be used to thrilling effect in beers that are completely modern.
During hop harvest 2013 (September to October for the non-agrarians) we will launch an initiative for local brewers to produce at least one beer each containing only hops grown in our Hopshires – Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. Initially to run for September and October, this will ultimately become a unique regional identity and a message that, for the brewers involved, British Hops are vital for the future of British brewing.
Geoff Thompson, Chairman of the British Hop Association is delighted: “It’s fantastic news that our neighbouring breweries want to support their hop farms and even more exciting that they want to raise the profile of the great tasting beers that our hops produce”. Chris Gooch of the Teme Valley Brewery, Worcestershire has been overwhelmed by the support for the idea: “You can see from the list of breweries already signed up that this initiative promises to be a huge success. In every case, our local breweries are already using hops from the UK. We need to pass on the message that the resource on our doorstep is uniquely valuable”.
he beers will be available at pubs throughout the Midlands during the autumn of 2013 and we will be presenting the enterprise directly to the public at:
- The Bromyard Hop Festival 31st August, Bromyard Town Centre, Herefordshire where growers and brewers will be available for interviews and photos.
- The Green Hop Festival at The Talbot, Knightwick 11th – 13th October
- Ludlow Food Festival 14th September
- Flavours of Herefordshire Food Festival 2nd – 3rd November TBC
For further information, please contact Chris Gooch on email at: fromthehopshires@hotmail.co.uk or on +44 (0) 779 2394151 www.thehopshires.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
Breweries on board so far:
Teme Valley Brewery
Wye Valley Brewery
Hobsons Brewery
Hereford Brewery
The Friday Beer Co
Pope’s Brewing Co
The Firefly
Mayfields Brewery
Malvern Hills Brewery
Bewdley Brewery
Cannon Royall Brewery
Ledbury Brewery
Ambridge Brewery
The Worcester City Brewery Co
St George’s Brewery
Hop Farms supporting Beers from the Hopshires:
SJ Adams, Lower House Farm, Worcs
JH & GN Andrews, Forge Bank, Hfds
MH & L Andrews, The Townend, Hfds
RMO, RCO & AM Capper, Stocks Farm, Worcs
HJ Davies & Sons, Walsopthorne, Hfds
MT & RJ Hancocks, Wyecroft Farm, Worcs
Hawkins Farming Ltd, The Farm & Millend Farm, Hfds
JS & CP Hawkins, Claston Farm Hfds
JS & SA Hawkins, Thinghill Court, Hfds
I Isherwood, New Hazeland Farm, Worcs
ER Lane & Sons, Old Court, Hfds
EL Lewis & Son, The Haven, Hfds
Tom Lewis, Lulsley Hops, Lulsley, Worcs
TR Morris, Burford Mill Farm, Worcs
Okells Organics, Bargains Farm, Hfds
SJ Parker, Instone Court, Hfds
HW & HG Pennington, Lulham Court, Hfds
RB Phillips, Eggleton Court, Hfds
JM Probert, Church House Farm, Hfds
GW & EA Powell-Tuck, Pridewood Hops, Hfds
C&R Pudge, Brooks House, Hfds
W&R Redman, Upper Ridney Farm, Worcs
E Thompson, Pixley Court, Hfds
G Thompson, Little Lambswick Farm, Worcs
John & Thomas Walker, Tedney Farm, Worcs