Hogs Back Brewery held its annual Hop Blessing in Tongham, in the heart of the traditional hop growing region of Surrey.
In what is an annual fixture in the Brewery’s calendar, over 100 guests gathered on Ascension Day (29th May) in the early evening sunshine to enjoy the blessing ceremony and the mini “beating the bounds” around the hop garden.
As was customary, Rev. Claire Holt, from the St Paul’s Church in Tongham, officiated at the ceremony to bless the hops, before leading guests on the walk around the 8.5-acre hop garden.
The centuries-old tradition of blessing of crops had long been observed in rural communities to encourage an abundant autumn harvest. The Hogs Back Brewery revived this tradition back in 2014, when it first planted its hop garden.
Beating the bounds would also take place around Ascension Day, when the local priest would lead a group around the parish boundaries to instil the important information – your parish dictated the taxes you paid and where you could be buried. By walking on the edges of the fields, it also helped keep the perimeters distinct to prevent disputes over boundary lines.
Guests included Hop Estate Manager, Matthew King, and many of the Hogs Back Hoppers, the team of volunteers, who help year-round in the hop garden.
Rev. Holt said, “Crop blessing would have been very much a part of the cycle of hop growing in Tongham and the wider Farnham area, and it is a joy to lead the prayers in a ceremony that continues to bring the community together.”
Managing Director Miles Chesterman said of the ceremony, “We’re very grateful to Claire for her continued association with the Hogs Back hops. Hop growing was such an essential part of the history of Tongham, so it’s important to uphold the hop blessing tradition to connect with our roots and the local community.”
It is too early to predict the autumn harvest, but the 6,000 hop plants are enjoying the warm weather and are on track to reach the top of the wires by the longest day.
Proceeds from the £5 donation, which included a pint of the Brewery’s flagship brand, Tongham TEA, went to the Brewery’s 2025 chosen charity, National Autistic Society.
Notes to Editors
About Hogs Back Brewery
Hogs Back Brewery was founded in 1992 in Tongham, Surrey. Its flagship brand, Tongham TEA (Traditional English Ale), is a leading regional ale in the south-east.
In 2014 Hogs Back planted its own revival hop garden. It celebrated its 10th Hop Harvest last September, harvesting Fuggles, English Cascade, and Farnham White Bine hops. It is the largest integrated hop grower and brewer in the UK.
In 2024, it won the Le May Cup for its White Bine hop and received Gold and Silver awards for its Fuggles and English Cascade hops, respectively.
The brewery’s range includes award-winning draught, bottled, and canned beers, showcasing its blend of brewing expertise and innovation. Notable awards include:
- Little Swine 0.5%: Gold medals in the European Beer Challenge 2024 and SIBA National Independent Beer Awards 2024.
- A over T (Aromas over Tongham) 9% ABV: CAMRA’s Champion Bottled Beer of Britain 2020.
- Hogstar lager: Gold medal in the World Beer Awards 2017.
- Hazy Hog: Bronze medal in the International Cider Challenge 2019.
- Tongham TEA: The first beer brewed by Hogs Back in 1992, Tongham TEA has won multiple awards including runner-up in CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain in 2000.
Hogs Back introduced 120 solar panels to its roof, sells spent grain to local farmers as animal feed and aims to reduce its single-use plastic, having introduced refillable glass Snorters and Snifters flagons. It has removed over 20,000 PETs bottles from its business, earning Plastic Free Champion status from Surfers Against Sewage.
In January 2025, Miles Chesterman became Managing Director, with owner Rupert Thompson now serving as Executive Chairman.
Most recently, Hogs Back Brewery has partnered with Exmoor Ales to brew a range of Exmoor beers at its Tongham home.
For more information, visit www.hogsback.co.uk
Image – Hop Blessing guests raise a glass of Tongham TEA at the Hop Blessing
Contact: jill@hogsback.co.uk
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