Hops in Scotland - A Rough Guide

FUTURE PERSPECTIVES There is a clear opportunity for locally-grown hops to supply the rapidly expanding craft brewing sector in Scotland, although it is highly unlikely that hop production in Scotland could meet the needs of the large mainstream brewers. The choice of variety for growers should be decided upon after discussions with potential customers in the craft brewing sector and according to what plants are available. Scaling up from the Institute trial will undoubtedly highlight further issues that need to be addressed in setting up a Scottish hop supply chain, but hopefully the work done to date at the Institute has demonstrated the underlying feasibility and potential of growing hops commercially in Scotland. Acknowledgements Funding for the hops work at the James Hutton Institute from the Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) is gratefully acknowledged. Advice and information from Dr. Peter Darby of Wye Hops Ltd. greatly assisted the establishment of the Institute hop trial. St. Andrews Brewing Company brewed and marketed beer [`Harvest Ale’ and `Local Hero’ ( 8 )] using Institute hops. Further information James Hutton Institute www.hutton.ac.uk British Hop Association www.britishhops.org.uk General information about hops, growing and new developments. Also contains pages on the breeding work at Wye Hops. A Plus Hops www.aplus-hops.co.uk Suppliers of certified hop plants. International Centre for Brewing and Distilling, Heriot Watt University www.i cbd.hw.ac.uk Koppert UK ( www.koppert.com ) develop biological control systems for a range of crops worldwide. Hutchinsons Crop Production Specialists ( www.hlhltd.co.uk ) Advice and supply including crop protection products, biological control products and all aspects of plant nutrition (including fertigation). 8 Local Hero by St Andrews Brewing Company