Weather variability and the torrential rains, particularly in the West Midlands in June and July, has dampened what would otherwise have been a very good year for some of the major English hop varieties.

Kent, also with variable weather, generally had somewhat higher yields. The main factor is that higher world prices are now reflected on the UK market.

As it is, certain varieties like the traditional Fuggles and Challenger have produced very good yields and it is probably one of the best seasons for Fuggles for a very long time. In other regions, harvesting of Goldings and Challenger has yet to be completed.

Following a below average year in 2006 for the West Midlands, John Andrews, chairman of the recently formed Wye Hops Limited - the privately owned research arm of the industry - who farms with his son Mark at Bosbury, near Ledbury, said that any variety susceptible to moulds is potentially at serious risk this year with Goldings, First Gold and Target extremely vulnerable to downy mildew.

Andrews added that most people will remember the flooding in Herefordshire. “Where the roots of the hop plant were under water for two to three days, there was damage, but most of the water went down within 36 hours,” he said. While the Teme Valley was most affected with rain, all but about 10 percent of the acreage of this once famous hop growing area had gone.

The weather could be illustrated by the fact that Bosbury Farm had 463mm of rain in three months, where normally they would average around 60-70mm a month, or 180mm over the same period.

The bigger problem, according to Andrews, is the below average sunshine in May, June and July.

But Andrews believes the West Midlands might well produce the same yields as last year, when drought was a problem.

Assessing the crop in Kent, Tony Redsell, whose family is one of the country’s largest growers, said they had a dreadful rainy weather spell in August, which did some cosmetic damage to the final sample.

Again there was variable weather, with lack of winter chill, and resulting delayed dormancy for the top aroma variety Goldings always lagging behind, whereas other varieties took off well.

“I think we have grown a very good Fuggles crop, and probably the best we have grown for years,” said Redsell, who recorded yields for this variety on his farm at 35 zentners (ztr) per hectare - (average 30-31 zentner/ha) with Northdown at 40 ztr/ha. The normal average is around 35-36 ztr.

Like other south east growers, there was a very good crop of Challenger, yet to be completely harvested. In the final reckoning, Goldings quality appears to be of good quality but just below average yield. Challenger and Fuggles look like yielding a 110-120 percent crop.

The increase in world hop prices is now definitely filtering through for UK growers.

Redsell said brewers now realise they can no longer pick up what they want on the spot market at easy prices, and some brewers are worried.

With the Chinese brewing faster than they can grow hops, prices are now very firm.

His aroma prices are on contract, but on the spot market could touch £270-£280 per zentner.