Why Are New Zealand Hops So Coveted?
Table of Contents
New Zealand Hops Make Beer Taste Good
Hops make beer taste good. New Zealand has hops that are special. People who make beer want these hops a lot. Let’s see why New Zealand hops are so good!
The Best Place to Grow Hops
Hops grow in a place called Nelson Tasman. This place is special.
- It has sun that is very bright
- It has soil from old volcanoes
- It is by the sea
This makes the hops taste like fruit. They can taste like:
- Gooseberry
- Lime
- Passion fruit
- Apricot
The hops that grow in other places do not taste like this. They taste more like dirt or pine. [^1]
Good for the Earth Too
- People who grow hops in New Zealand take good care of the earth.
- They do not use many bug sprays
- They save water
- They keep the land clean
This makes the hops even better for making beer. [^2]
Types of New Zealand Hops
- New Zealand has many kinds of hops. Here are some that beer makers like the most:
Nelson Sauvin
- Nelson Sauvin is the most famous New Zealand hop. It tastes like white wine. It makes a beer called IPA very good. This hop costs a lot of money. It costs two times more than other hops!
Motueka
- Motueka tastes like lime. It is good in light beers. Many beer makers use it.
Riwaka
- Riwaka tastes like passion fruit. It makes a beer called NEIPA taste good. It is hard to grow, so it costs a lot.
New Kinds
- There are new kinds like Pacific Sunrise and Nectaron. They taste very much like fruit.
Smart People Make New Hops
- People in New Zealand have made new hops for more than 50 years. A man named Dr. Ron Beatson helps make them. These new hops:
- Do not get sick easy
- Taste very good
- Can live in hard times
- Need less water
- One hop called Wakatu is now used all over the world. [^3]
Why Beer Makers Pay More
- Beer makers pay more for New Zealand hops for many good reasons.
Not Many Hops
- New Zealand makes just 1% of all the hops in the world. That is not much! This makes them hard to get.
Fresh Hop Beer
- Some beer makers use hops that are just picked. This makes a beer called fresh-hopped beer. You can only make this when hops are just picked. A beer place called Tuatara Brewing makes these beers. People love them!
Working With Others
- Beer makers from all over the world want to work with New Zealand hops.
- Garage Project and Mikkeller made beer with them
- Stone & Wood makes beer with them too
- These beers taste very good and sell very well.
Hard Things About New Zealand Hops
- Getting New Zealand hops is not easy. Here is why:
Short Time to Pick
- Hops must be picked at the right time. This time is very short.
Long Way to Go
- New Zealand is far from many places. It takes a long time for hops to get to beer makers.
Not Enough for All
- There are not enough hops for all who want them. Beer makers must wait in line.
Weather Problems
- Sometimes bad weather can hurt hop plants. In 2023, floods hurt 15% of the hops. This made them cost 20% more.
How to Use New Zealand Hops
- If you make beer at home, here is how to use New Zealand hops:
Dry-Hopping
- Put the hops in the beer after it is made. This makes the beer smell good but not taste too strong.
Good Pairs
- Some hops go well with some beers:
- Nelson Sauvin goes well with Saisons
- Motueka goes well with light beers
- Riwaka goes well with fruit beers
Where to Buy
- You can buy New Zealand hops from NZ Hops Ltd or from shops that sell beer making things.
The Future of New Zealand Hops
- The future looks good for New Zealand hops.
- More beer makers want to use them
- New kinds are being made all the time
- More land is being used to grow them
- But there are still not enough for all who want them. This means they will still cost a lot.
What People Ask
Why do New Zealand hops taste different?
- The sun, soil, and sea air in New Zealand make the hops taste like fruit.
Are they more expensive?
- Yes. They cost more because there are not many and they must come from far away.
What beers use them?
- Beers like Hazy IPAs, Farmhouse Ales, and Sour Beers use them a lot.
New Zealand Hops by the Numbers
- Here is a table with facts about New Zealand hops:
| Fact | Number |
|---|---|
| Types of New Zealand hops | More than 16 |
| Part of world’s hops from New Zealand | 1% |
| How much more Nelson Sauvin costs than other hops | 2 times |
| Years of making new hops | More than 50 |
| Hops with no or few bug sprays | 85% |
| Less water used since 2010 | 30% |
| Beers in US that use New Zealand hops for fruit taste | More than 60% |
| Crops hurt by floods in 2023 | 15% |
| Price go up in 2023 | 20% |
| New Zealand beer places that use local hops | 70% |
Why We Love New Zealand Hops
- New Zealand hops are loved for many reasons:
- They taste like no other hops
- There are not many to go around
- They are made with love and care
- They are good for the earth
- They make beer taste very good
- If you make beer, try New Zealand hops. If you drink beer, look for beers made with them. Like good wine, New Zealand hops show that good things can come in small bits. You can show off your love for good beer with both! For beer lovers who want to keep their drinks cold, our Wine Bucket is a good match for beers made with New Zealand hops. And just like a good Rubber Bar Mat keeps your bar clean, New Zealand hop farms keep their land clean and good for the earth.
Footnotes:
[^1]: Information from nzhops.co.nz about the Nelson Tasman region’s growing conditions. [^2]: Based on NZ Hops’ certification practices showing 85% of hops grown with organic or minimal-pesticide practices. [^3]: From NZ Herald brand insight about Dr. Ron Beatson’s hop breeding program spanning 50+ years.
