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“Britains Top Hop announced”.
Results:

Overall Winner and Best Sample of Fuggles - James Rickard, Rickards Farm.

 

Sample of Golding – C W J Lillywhite, Lenhall Hops.

 

 

 

 

Best Sample of Hop on the basis of Flavour Character – Steve and Dan Sewell, Little Pell Farm.

 

 

 

 

Best Sample of hop bought on the basis of their high alpha acid content – C R & G Daws.

 

 

 

 

Best Sample of Hedgerow Variety – Nigel Edmed, East Sutton Growers.

 

 

 

 

 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 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.

Hop Farmer and British Hop Association Committee member, Ali Capper, added, “Hop growers and merchants are thrilled to welcome so many brewers to these awards. It’s thanks to your enthusiasm that British hops are going through such resurgence. You have shown how they can be used to brew beers with a myriad of different flavours – tangerine, citrus, grass, grapefruit, chocolate, blackcurrant, spice, pepper, apricot, marmalade and mint. An endless array of delicate but complex flavours to tempt the palate of every beer connoisseur”.

See British Hop Varieties for a full flavour guide that allows brewers and beer drinkers to discover which beer flavours are associated with which hop variety.

FULL RESULTS of the 2012 BRITISH HOP COMPETITION

Class A: The Le May Cup for the best sample of Golding and eligible clones.

1  C W J Lillywhite, Lenhall Hops – Canterbury, Kent – East Kent Goldings

2  Little Lambswick Partnership – Lindridge, Worcs – Goldings

3  Redsell Teynham Partnership – Teynham, Kent – East Kent Goldings

Class B: The Hop Merchant Cup for the best sample of seeded hop bought on the basis of their flavour character, regardless of alpha acid content.

1  Steve and Dan Sewell, Little Pell Farm – Wadhurst, East Sussex – Brambling Cross

2  Coombe-Jones & Sons – Goudhurst, Kent – WGV

3  Redsell Teynham Partnership – Teynham, Kent – Northdown

Highly commended : Redsell Teynham Partnership

Class C: The Brewers Cup for the best sample of seeded hop that are bought primarily on the basis of their high alpha acid content.

1  C R & G Daws – Bodiam, East Sussex – Admiral (17.5%)

2  Ian Strang – Lamberhurst, Kent – Target

3  Little Pell Farm – Wadhurst, East Sussex – Pilgrim

Class D: The Wigan Cup for the best sample of Fuggles.

1  James Rickard, Rickards Farm – Canterbury, Kent – Fuggles

2  W Rogers & Sons – Dartford, Kent – Fuggles

3  Little Lambswick Partnership – Lindridge, Worcs – Fuggles

Class E: The Botanix Cup for the best sample of Dwarf/Hedgerow variety.

1  Nigel Edmed, East Sutton Growers – East Sutton, Kent – Boadicea

2  M R & A Capper – Suckley, Worcs – Endeavour

3  Peter Cyster – Northiam, East Sussex – Sussex Hop

Here are a selection of photographs from the day :-