From the latest Hop Queries by Stan Heironymus (you should subscribe! )
The Association of German Hop Growers estimates they will harvest 33,779 metric tons (about 75 million pounds), compared to 43,141 in 2025.
– The Czech Hop Growers Union estimates production will be down about 25% from 5,207 metric tons in 2025. The official results from alpha screening by the Czech Chmelarsky Institut show historically low alpha values of 1.8% for Saaz.
– In Slovenia, in addition to the heat repeated hailstorms damaged about half 4,000 acres strung for harvest, with losses in yield between 10% and 100%.
– In Poland, frost damaged hops in some fields at the beginning of the season and the area suffered through the same high heat and low moisture conditions as the rest of Europe.
To this I will add . . .
– Pascal Piroué, chairman of the Deutscher Hopfenwirtschaftsverband, said the weak 2026 European hop crop and lower alpha acid yields should not be mistaken for a solution to the current oversupply situation. “While reduced production may help lower existing inventories, the global hop market continues to face significant challenges, including declining beer consumption in key markets and increasing climate-related risks.”
– Brewers who use German hops and are wed to sticking with the current year crop may need to take a close look at the alpha acid numbers and adjust recipes. Here are numbers for the 10-year average alpha, the 2025 alpha and the 2026 alpha for well known varieties:
* Hallertau Mittelfrüh 4.2%, 4.7%, 3.2%
* Hersbrucker 2.9%, 4.4%, 2.5%
* Hallertau Tradition 5.6%, 5.5%, 5%
* Perle 6.7%, 7.2%, 4.1%
* Magnum 13.6%, 14.3%, 11.5%
* Herkules 16.1%, 16.2%, 12.6%
* Tango 9.5%, 9.9%, 7.7%
* Titan 16.4%, 15.9%, 15.6%