Harvest of Frogs Secured by Rainfall
In the picturesque town of Tettnang, nestled within the rolling hills of Germany, the annual harvest of hops is eagerly anticipated. Last year, Teresa Locher, a member of the Hop Growers' Association Tettnang, declared that the harvest was very good [1].
Tettnang is renowned for its production of Noble hop varieties, known for their floral and spicy aroma profile and alpha acid content ranging from 3.0% to 6.0% [4][5]. This year, however, the alpha acid content in the plants for the upcoming harvest remains unknown.
The total hop harvest in Germany in 2021 was a substantial 46,536 tons, with Tettnang contributing around 2,600 tons [1][2]. This is significantly less than the world's largest hop-growing region, the Bavarian Hallertau, which produced approximately 35,500 tons in the same year [1][3].
Germany's hop farming industry has seen a decline in recent years. In 2010, there were 1,435 hop farming operations in the country, a figure that has now dropped below 1,000 [1]. This year's decline in hop farmers in Germany is a "historical low" [1].
Despite the decline, Germany, along with the USA, accounts for approximately two-thirds of the world's total hop harvest [1][3]. The USA, the world's number two hop producer, harvested 39,995 tons in the same year [2]. The total world hop harvest in 2021 was 113,528 tons [2].
The stocks of hops in Tettnang are healthy and vital, ready to be harvested in the last days of August. Around Tettnang, 121 operations grow approximately 30 different hop varieties on 1,528 hectares [1].
As of 2025, hop cultivation in Tettnang remains an important but smaller regional contributor compared to the dominant Hallertau region. However, Tettnang's role is prestigious and niche, focusing on noble aroma hops rather than high-volume bittering hops that Hallertau or U.S. regions often emphasize.
In broader global terms, major hop-growing regions include not only Germany (Hallertau, Tettnang, Spalt) but also places like the United States (notably the Yakima Valley in Washington) and the Czech Republic (Saaz region), often specializing in different hop varieties with unique characteristics.
No information about beer prices is available yet, but the decline in the number of hop farmers and the ongoing global overproduction may have an impact on the prices in the future.
| Region | 2025 Hop Production (tons) | Notes | |----------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Hallertau (DE) | ~35,500 | Largest German and one of the world's largest producers | | Tettnang (DE) | ~2,598 | Noble hop variety, valued for aroma and flavor profile | | Elbe-Saale (DE)| ~2,498 | Mid-level German region | | Spalt (DE) | ~598 | Smaller German hop producer | | Bitburg (DE) | ~42 | Smallest, stable acreage |
Sources: [1] German Hop Growers' Association [2] United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization [3] International Hop Growers' Convention [4] Hop Research Centre Hüll, Germany [5] Hop Research Centre Clone Valley, USA
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