Where are Hops Grown?

Are you a fan of hoppy beers? Have you ever wondered what goes into all your favorite beers?

One of the first ingredients any beer lover should learn about is hops. These flowers are produced all over the world and are used to give flavor and stability to everyone’s favorite alcoholic beverage. But exactly where are hops grown?

Read further on to learn more about hops’ growing conditions and the answers to common questions about them.

Where are Hops Grown?

Hops Production Source

As a general rule of thumb, hops typically grow well in soils where potatoes can grow. Because of this, you’ll find hops in a wide variety of countries all over the world, as long as those countries have areas that have moisture and moderate temperatures.

Some of the top countries in the world that grow hops include the United States, Germany, the Czech Republic, China, and Poland. The United States and Germany are close when it comes to hops production; in 2017, the US produced 44,324 tons, while Germany was only around 5,000 tons behind.

Wondering where in the United States most hops are produced? If you’re expecting the warmer regions like California to be the top hops producers, you’d be surprised. Most of the United States’s hops grow in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

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Hops FAQs

Where do Hops Grow Naturally?

Usually, when a plant is discovered to have some commercial use, it’s taken and spread all over to the world to as many countries that can grow it as possible. This oftentimes leave the origins of those plants confusing, since they seemingly grow everywhere.

That happens to be the case for hops. Nowadays, they’re grown internationally, but that doesn’t mean they were originally found everywhere. So, where do hops grow naturally?

The interesting thing about hops is that they did grow all over the world even before they were cultivated on a massive commercial scale. Hops can naturally be found in North and South America, as well as Eurasia.

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Can You Grow Hops in the UK?

It’s no secret that the UK has an oftentimes damp, rainy climate. This can make growing various crops on a commercial scale there a real challenge.

If you’re a beer drinker in the UK looking to enjoy entirely UK-made beverages, though, there’s no need to fear. Hops can indeed be grown in the UK, and in fact there are over fifty farmers in the UK that produce hops.

The southeast regions of the UK, such as Kent and Surrey, are some of the best places in the country for growing hops. However, some West Midlands counties like Worcestershire are also known for hops production.

Wrap Up

It’s never a bad idea to learn about the things we are putting in our bodies, whether it’s food or drink. If you’re a beer lover, this means diving into the world of hops on an at least shallow scale.