Kent hops 'under threat as brewers use foreign varities'

While it is true that there has been a real trend in recent years for micro breweries to launch new beers that use mostly foreign hops often chosen because they have strong aromas it is not true to say that this recent trend will threaten the very existance of the Kent hop industry.

Most of these foreign hopped beers launched by the micros are boutique ales with niche market appeal and many are only a pleasant experience when a single glass is drunk. Few if any can be described as true session beers. Nearly all the real session ales on offer by the regional breweries use exclusively brewed using traditional UK hop varieties and will continue to do so for many years to come as the hops actually characterise the ale "i.e. the hops are part of the brand". A seesion beer developed by the micro breweries is also very unlikely to involve the use of a hop with a strong unique aroma as these tend to limit the amount an individual can drink in one go.

It is also not true to say that UK hops can never give the strong aromas that micro breweries are looking for as the National Hop Collection is full of hop plants that have unique aroma characteristics. Some are old varieties that have ceased to be grown commercially and others are from the extensive breeding programme being carried out by Dr. Peter Derby. One new variety presently under farm trial is "Endeavour" which has been described as having a similar aroma profile to the american variety Cascade. It should be noted that Cascade was almost stopped being grown in the USA because it was thought by the major US brewers to have too strong an aroma but then subsequently became a favourite with the micros.

I am sure once all the micro breweries have beers in their portfolios that are characterised by the use of hops with strong aromas they will be looking around for something new and that might just involve producing beers that simply have a "hoppy aroma". Trends come and go but the Kent hop industry is here to stay at least for the rest of my life time.