Hop Products Australia announced that its farms harvested 9.9 percent more hops in 2023 than 2022. HPA produces most of the hops grown in Australia, including proprietary varieties such as Galaxy, Vic Secret and Eclipse.
Overall, growers picked 1,821 metric tons (about 4 million pounds). For perspective, farmers in the American Northwest harvested more than 45,800 metric tons in 2022, about 25 times more.
(More perspective: Citra production was 17 million pounds despite low yields because of weather conditions, and Citra accounts for almost 17 percent of the Northwest crop. HPA produced about 2.4 million pounds of Galaxy, 60 percent of its crop. Oregon farmers harvested almost as much Strata in 2022; a number that will be lower in 2023 because as much as 30 percent of Strata acreage is being idled).
HPA recently expanded acreage and production capacity, and the 2023 increase reflect plants reaching commercial maturity. Gains would have been greater were it not for a third consecutive La Niña weather pattern. Below average temperatures and above average rainfall early in the growing season slowed plant growth. Record low levels of solar radiation for the fourth straight year also impacted maturity.
A press release states that a portion of this year’s crop will be reserved for commissioning a new production facility in Victoria. “This will allow us to double our current processing capacity while retaining higher average oils in the finished pellets at a lower average HSI.” said Owen Johnston, head of sales and marketing.
HPA expects this will result in an increase in quality, a reduced spread of analytical data, and more consistent performance in beer. Unstated is the fact that some brewers have complained about the inconsistent quality of Galaxy.
Farmers harvested 1,096 metric tons of Galaxy (+8.8%), 320 (+10.3%) of Vic Secret, and 161 (+70%) of newcomer Eclipse. A metric ton equals 2,204 pounds.
Average oil content was equal or above the five-year average for all proprietary varieties. Content increased about 20 percent in Eclipse, to 3.2 mL/100g on average. “Eclipse had a particularly strong showing that should lead to an exceptional year of performance in beer,” Johnston said.