Brewing Schedules

But even then, a contract, which starts at 40kg from Charles Faram but requires all stock to be taken at once, isn’t a failsafe way of guaranteeing the hop varieties required to support your brewing schedule for the coming months.

“Look at Nelson Sauvin, where there is only a limited amount grown. We have actually taken the view now that it is distributed on a basis where, if you took it last year then you can have it next year and if you don’t want it, then we can contact others,” says Corbett.

“For other varieties, when there is a drought, we pro rata across the contract and acreages are being grown sold in the first year. But a cold spring won’t produce what you thought they would. People have been expecting three quarters of a crop but we are looking down and thinking, crikey, we are going to be short.”

He concludes: “Yes, we are getting shortfalls frequently with these popular varieties. But the problem will come along where a shortfall is predicted, and there will be a full crop.

“That’s why it’s important to only contract what you need as you may end up with too much at a cost to you. Very soon, the crop will be big enough and at that stage, somebody carries the can, and it’s the person that contracts.

“There have been a lot of hops planted this year. But then I look at the number planted, and the speed of the industry growing, and part of me asks if there will be enough, and part asks if we have planted too many!”