Alpha acids content in Czech hops from harvest 2022 - forecasts, reality and trends

Abstract

From the brewing and commercial point of view, the content of alpha acids is the most important quality parameter of hops, which is subject to significant annual fluctuations. The established system for evaluating the content of alpha acids in Czech hops consists of pre-harvest and harvest predictions and a detailed analysis of reality based on the analysis of all purchasing lots of raw hops. It is differentiated according to varieties and hop growing areas. This article presents the results of the 2022 harvest, discusses the influence of weather conditions, the age of hop gardens and virus-free seedlings on the harvest results, and the relationship of predictions to reality. The average content of alpha acids in the majority Saaz variety in the Saaz, Auscha and Tirschitz hop growing regions was 2.88, 2.80 and 2.63% by weight in the original respectively. In all areas, the alpha acid content has been significantly affected by the age of the hop growths. Hybrid varieties coped with adverse weather conditions much better than most aromatic hops. The total production of alpha acids in Czech hops from the harvest of 2022 was 182.9 tons, one of the lowest in the last 15 years. It is due to the concurrence of two factors: the low yield per hectare and the content of alpha acids in Saaz hops. The cause was, similarly to Germany, an extreme deficit of precipitation and high temperatures during the vegetation season.