Britain’s 'Top Hop' announced
British hop growers and brewers gathered at Stocks Farm in Worcestershire for the unveiling of the results of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling’s annual British Hop Competition for the 2012 crop. The competition dates back to 1944 and is judged by a panel of Master Brewers who draw on their personal experience as Head Brewers to judge the quality of the hops. A total of 122 samples from the 2012 harvest were submitted to the competition by 45 growers from across Britain. The overall champion was a sample of Fuggle hops grown by James Rickard of Rickards Farm in Canterbury, Kent. The award was presented by Mark Woodhouse, Chairman of Hall and Woodhouse and Master of the Worshipful Company of Brewers. Full details of all the winners are listed below. Simon Jackson, Chief Executive of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling said “Britain is famed around the world as one of the world’s top brewing nations. The excellence of our local raw materials has been a key contribut...