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UK PUB CLOSURES & HOP GROWERS
Hop Growing at Risk
The traditional British pint is under threat as UK pub closures have put the centuries-old hop growing industry in jeopardy.
Figures revealed to readers that half of the hops grown in Britain this year won’t be used. Leaving a surplus of 800 tons, or enough to brew 700 million pints of cask ale.
Unless the Government buys up the surplus, valued at £8m, many of the 59 family owned farms responsible for the country’s entire hop crop will be forced to quit the business. Once they have exited they will not come back, the British Hop Association warns.
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A Crisis for the British Pint: The Future of UK Hop Farming at Risk
The beloved British pint may be in more danger than you think. The 2020 news article spotlighted a hidden casualty of widespread pub closures: the centuries-old tradition of British hop farming. According to the report, more than half of the hops grown in the UK that year went unused. Leaving a staggering 800-ton surplus — enough to brew 700 million pints of cask ale.
This excess wasn’t just a matter of supply and demand. With pubs shuttered and brewers scaling back, the ripple effects hit British hop farmers hard. The British Hop Association warned that without government intervention to purchase the £8 million surplus, many of the 59 family-owned farms that make up the backbone of the UK’s hop-growing industry might have no choice but to shut down permanently. And once a hop farm closes, it’s unlikely to return — representing a permanent loss to the country’s brewing heritage.
This story of hop growing at risk is a powerful reminder of how interconnected the brewing industry is with agriculture, tradition, and community. It also highlights the importance of supporting local producers when looking to buy hops and beers — from farmers to craft brewers — to ensure a resilient supply chain and preserve a time-honuored British legacy.
To learn more about the challenges that are still facing UK hop growers check out our Brewing Podcast | Beer Talk, Hops & Industry Stories.
