Organic hop varieties

For the Great Beer Debate at Oxford Real Farming Conference, Stroud Brewery took their Oaty Ale - an all-UK Organic Pale Ale showcasing the first harvest of organic Harlequin hops from Woodlands Farm. It was very well received, and the bold fruity characteristics were well presented in the brew which utilised (the majority of) the 2022 organic crop. Conclusion for brewing characteristics - it provided bold and distinctive flavour and aroma as a UK grown hop. Stroud Brewery would certainly like to see the full harvest for 2023.

The debate itself was again a great opportunity to highlight the immediate challenges faced by UK hop growers to an informed audience, including the head of standards at SA.

Below is a summary of the year one results. The full end of year one interim report can be found at the results section of the field lab page.

The following observations were made by the growers following visits to CFHDP nursery and from assessment in on-farm trials at Lowergate Farm.

Field observations at Tedney House Farm

• Sovereign: Control
• Merlin: Showed high levels of powdery mildew; the farmer is considering removing it. Initially planted ½ acre then added four following the season. Regretted planting the additional without a proper trial
• 42/10: Showed signs of powdery mildew with low vigour
• 65/2011/24: Promising, vigorous, generally free from disease although some late season powdery mildew observed on some cones leading to premature ripening and some cone breakage
• 64/2011/26: Early signs of powdery mildew but infection did not take hold
• 12/2016/45: Wilt susceptible and discarded from the trial – deselected from the development programme due to susceptibility to wilt and powdery mildew
• Endeavour: Replaces 12/16/45 as a disease resistant dwarf type almost immune to powdery mildew and very tolerant of wilt but may have problems with late season downy mildew and aphids

Field observations at Lowergate Farm

• Challenger: Control
• Harlequin: Growth was moderate with 50% reaching eight foot in height. Precocious moderate crop harvested by hand from the strongest plants totalling 1kg. Disease resistance was excellent some red spider mite evident but dealt with via bio control
• Progress: Failure of most crowns to climb up the strings suspect waterlogging of the crowns. Crop failure - cured with ditching
• Pilgrim: Has a vigorous growth habit and provides a high yield, with good resistance to both powdery and downy mildew, and one of the most wilt resistant varieties
• 404: Early infection of downy but rapid response in growth. Very vigorous with bold cones weighing well
• 3294: Weak growth, poor crop. Not optimistic for its suitability but will commit to trial for three years.

One of the varieties they had intended to trial (12/16/45) had a wilted plant was judged unfit for the trial. This was replaced with Endeavour which is a dwarf hop from the Wye breeding program. It appears to fit their requirements in that it is quite disease resistant and produces a sound usable hop.

Variety 64/11/26. This was not quite ripe when observed and showed signs of powdery mildew on it earlier in the season. It will be planted but may not progress beyond the trial, which would be a pity as it has a higher Alpha which would be very useful to an organic brewer.

Variety 65/11/24. This still looks promising. A bit more vigorous, long thin cones towards the top of the plant, but apparently free from disease at the site.

They are hoping to get the plants in before Christmas if the weather allows.

The group met at John Walker's farm in Worcestershire and were shown around his hops yards, including the newly established varieties, followed by a visit to the hops nursery of Charles Faram, hops breeder. The discussions highlighted the layers of complexity and the challenges of hop growing. Key points include:

• Organic hops growers need to be constantly ahead of the game in terms of varietal selection. Diseases like wilt or mildew adapt, customer taste changes and pests like aphids or spider mites evolve
• A lack of genetic diversity is one of the main drivers of disease and pest vulnerability in hops
• With reduced permitted chemical intervention there is increasing need across industry for disease resistance in hops
• The organic setting may present reduced disease pressure due to better soil health, reduced nitrate inputs and natural predator banks
• Organic plants require certain characteristics - eg. initial growth/node length to out compete weeds

There was a need for supply chain understanding about comparative risks experienced by organic vs conventional hop growers (a case for and against organic production): crop losses, costs, premiums received, etc.