Hogs Back Brewery has won three medals at the annual British Hop Awards, organised by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.
‘Hogs Back Hoppers’ volunteers join Matthew King and Rupert Thompson to celebrate the brewery’s win. They are pictured in front of the hop picker, with the Le Mays cup being held by Matthew
All three of the hops cultivated in its hop garden were recognised, with golds for Fuggles and Farnham White Bine, and a silver for Cascade.
A total of 166 hop samples submitted by hop growers and merchants from across the UK. Judging took place in November in London, where all samples were assessed ‘blind’ by a panel of head brewers and other experts.
Hogs Back was the only brewer to win medals at the competition, with all the others going to specialist hop growers.
“Winning three medals at the Hop Awards is a tremendous achievement, especially as we were the only entrant to win two gold medals,” said Rupert Thompson, managing director of Hogs Back Brewery.
“Next year marks 10 years since we planted our original hop garden, so to be bringing home a prestigious medal for each of the hops we’re growing is something to really celebrate.
“We started growing hops because we wanted to reduce the carbon footprint of one of our key ingredients by growing them just yards from the brewhouse. We also wanted to revive hop growing in the Farnham area.
“Ten years on, the benefits of having a hop garden have exceeded all our expectations. The hops we grow provide around 50% of our annual requirement and contribute to the unique character of our beers. The hop garden has become a focal point not just for the brewery, but for the local community, with 3,000 people helping to celebrate our Hop Harvest in September.”
He added: “We are now the largest brewer grower of hops in the UK, but growing hops hasn’t been all plain sailing! When we started, nine years ago, Matthew and I knew absolutely nothing about how difficult a crop of hops are. But we had a vision, great enthusiasm and, fantastic help from two experts, Dr Peter Darby, from Wye Hops, and Bill Biddell from the local Hampton Estate.
“I am indebted to our hop garden manager, Matthew King, for his 100% commitment, dedication, and skill, without which none of this would have been possible. Thanks are also due to our volunteer Hogs Back Hoppers, who help to tend the plants and bring in the harvest. These medals are a wonderful reward for a great team effort.”
The Hop Awards also presented a medal to another Surrey hop grower, the Hampton Estate, in nearby Seale, which supplies Hogs Back. It won The Wigan Cup for the best sample of Fuggles.
Both Hogs Back and the Hampton Estate are close to Farnham, which was historically one of the most important hop farming regions in the UK, with the area’s hops commanding a premium price.
The Farnham White Bine hop was originally developed in the early 1700s, just a mile and a half from the site of Hogs Back Brewery. It was highly prized for its aromas and was the precursor variety to the better-known Kent Goldings.
