In early 2022, Charles Faram’s Sales Manager and Brewer, Jon Stringer, joined forces with Bohem Brewery in North London to brew a distinctive Czech-style lager, showcasing the unique characteristics of the Most hop variety.

The Most Hop: A New Addition to the Hop Family

The Most hop, developed by Charles Faram and grown exclusively in the Czech Republic, is a dual-purpose hop variety named after the Czech town of Most. The name “Most” translates to “bridge,” symbolising the connection between the UK and the Czech Republic. This hop is a sister variety to Charles Faram’s UK hop varieties, Jester and Olicana.

Brewing the Most Lager

Using Bohem Brewery’s authentic Czech decoction brewing kit, Jon Stringer collaborated with Bohem’s Head Brewer, Matěj Krizek, to craft a 4.5% ABV single-hop lager. The brewing process involved six weeks of lagering in refrigerated tanks, allowing the Most hop’s grapefruit and melon aromas to develop fully. The result was a beer with a complex taste profile, balancing sweet and savoury notes, a soft mouthfeel, and subtle bitterness.

The Significance of the Collaboration

This collaboration provided an opportunity to observe the performance of the Most hop in a real-world brewing environment. Jon Stringer emphasised the importance of such collaborations in understanding how new hop varieties behave under commercial brewing conditions, ensuring they meet the expectations of brewers and consumers alike.