HOP INDUSTRY COMMITTEE ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1983 CROP

Analytical values for α-acid content of thirteen varieties of hops from the 1983 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. For all varieties the tolerance aim of ±0·5% was achieved this year and variability of the crop was, in general, less than for previous years. As before, the results are acceptable for commercial purposes. The sampling rates have been considered and reductions in the rates for Bullion, Northern Brewer, Wye Northdown, Wye Target and Yeoman would be justified.     

ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1985 CROP

Analytical values for α-acid content of twelve varieties of hops from the 1985 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. With the exception of the varieties Zenith, Wye Target and Yeoman, the variability of the crop gave a similar trend to that of previous years. The sampling rates have been considered and increases in the rates for Wye Target and Yeoman have been recommended.     

HOP INDUSTRY COMMITTEE ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1982 CROP

Analytical values for α-acid content of fourteen varieties of hops from the 1982 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. For all varieties the tolerance aim of ± 0.5% was achieved this year and variability of the crop was generally the same as the average for the last five years. As before, the results are acceptable for commercial purposes. The sampling rates have been considered with no change recommended.     

HOP INDUSTRY COMMITTEE: ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1980 CROP

Analytical values for α-acid content of thirteen varieties of hops from the 1980 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. For all varieties the tolerance aim of ±0·5% was achieved this year and variability of the crop was generally the same as the average for the last five years. As before, the results are acceptable for commercial purposes. The sampling rates have been considered and a minor reduction in the rate for Wye Target is justified.     

HOP INDUSTRY COMMITTEE ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1981 CROP

Analytical values for α-acid content of thirteen varieties of hops from the 1981 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. For all varieties the tolerance aim of ±0·5% was achieved this year and variability of the crop was generally the same as the average for the last five years. As before, the results are acceptable for commercial purposes. The sampling rates have been considered and reductions in the rates for Keyworth's Midseason and Wye Challenger are justified.     

HOP INDUSTRY COMMITTEE: ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1977 CROP

Analytical values for α-acid content of thirteen varieties of hops from the 1977 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. For all varieties the tolerance aim of ±0.5% was easily achieved, the whole crop being less variable than in any previous year since these records were kept. The results are acceptable for commercial purposes. α-Acid values for seedless hops from Hampshire and from the Seedless Hop Trials are included and comparisons with seeded hops are shown over a three year period.     

HOP INDUSTRY COMMITTEE: ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1976 CROP

Analytical values for α-acid content of thirteen varieties of hops from the 1976 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. For eleven varieties the tolerance aim of ±0·5% was achieved; for two varieties there was a marginal excess in smaller growths. The results are considered acceptable for commercial purposes. α-Acid values for seedless hops from Hampshire and from the Seedless Hop Trials are included in the report and comparisons with seeded hops are shown over a three-year period.     

ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1986 CROP

Analytical values for α-acid content of twelve varieties of hops from the 1986 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. The variabilities of Wye Northdown, Zenith and Wye Challenger follow similar trends to those of previous years, while Northern Brewer has continued to show a reduction in variability. Following the increase in sampling rate, Yeoman has reverted to an acceptable level of variation. Fuggle, Progress and Bramling Cross have increased their variabilities but remain within acceptable limits. The variabilities of Goldings, W.G.V. and Wye Target, despite the increase in sampling rate of the latter, have attained higher than normal levels. The sampling rates have been considered and in view of the adverse growing conditions encountered with the 1986 crop, no changes have been recommended.     

HOP INDUSTRY COMMITTEE: ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1978 CROP

Analytical values for α-acid content of thirteen varieties of hops from the 1978 Crop are presented in relation to the district of production. For all varieties the tolerance aim of ±0.5% was achieved and this year the crop was no more variable than the average for the last five years. As before the results are acceptable for commercial purposes.     

HOP INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1975 CROP

Analytical values for α-acid content of eleven varieties of hops from the 1975 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. For most of the varieties the variation within growths was lower than in the previous year. With amended sampling rates, the tolerance limits of ±0·5 % were achieved for all hop varieties and the results are acceptable for commercial purposes. Some α-acid values for seedless hops from the Seedless Hop Trials are included in the Report and comparisons with seeded hops are shown over a three year period.     

ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1987 CROP

Analytical values for α-acid content, as measured by lead conductance value, of twelve varieties of hops from the 1987 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. Satisfactory variabilities have been achieved by Fuggle, Progress, Bramling Cross, Northern Brewer, Zenith, Wye Challenger and Omega. Wye Northdown has increased in variability, reaching the upper limit of acceptability despite an increase in sampling rate. Goldings, W.G.V. and Wye Target have continued to show higher than normal variabilities. This year Yeoman has moved in variability above the acceptable limit. The sampling rates have been considered and in view of the unusual growing conditions experienced with the 1987 crop, with hop yields considerably reduced and α-acids increased to very high levels, no changes have been recommended.     

HOP INDUSTRY COMMITTEE: ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1979 CROP

Analytical values for α-acid content of thirteen varieties of hops from the 1979 Crop are presented in relation to the district of production. For all varieties the tolerance aim of 0.5% was achieved this year and variability of the crop was generally the same as the average for the last six years. As before the results are acceptable for commercial purposes. The sampling rates have been considered and no changes can be justified.     

COMMERCIAL BREWING AND STORAGE TRIALS WITH YEOMAN HOPS

Commercial brewing trials carried out with Yeoman hops from the 1981 crop have shown that these hops are suitable for producing both ales and lager beers. Seeded Yeoman hops show good storage characteristics and lost only 15·3% of their initial Lead Conductance Values after 44 weeks storage at ambient temperature.     

INSTITUTE OF BREWING HOP INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1974 CROP

Analytical values for 11 varieties of hops from the 1974 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. For most of these varieties the variation within growths was a little higher than in previous years and this was ascribed to abnormal weather conditions before and during harvesting and the inclusion of many first year growths of high α-acid hops. The analytical results are acceptable for commercial purposes.     

INSTITUTE OF BREWING HOPS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1973 CROP

Analytical values for 15 varieties of hops from the 1973 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. For most of these varieties the variation within growths was a little higher than in the 1972 crop. Nevertheless the results are quite acceptable for commercial purposes.     

INSTITUTE OF BREWING HOPS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1972 CROP

Analytical values for 14 varieties of hops from the 1972 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. The tendency noted in 1971 for the variation within growths to diminish was continued in 1972. It was found that for Keyworth's Mid-season a sampling rate of 1 in 20 would be acceptable for commercial purposes.     

INSTITUTE OF BREWING HOPS ADVISORY GOMMITEE ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1971 CROP

Analytical values for 10 varieties of hops from the 1971 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. Where comparisons can be made it is seen that variation within growths is less than in previous seasons. It was found that for Whitbread Golding Variety a sampling rate of 1 in 10 would be acceptable for commercial purposes.     

INSTITUTE OF BREWING HOPS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ANALYSIS OF HOPS OF THE 1970 CROP

Analytical results for 6 varieties of hops from the 1970 crop are presented in relation to the district of production. It was found that values sufficient for commercial and industrial purposes can be obtained by sampling Bramling Cross at the rate of 1 sample from each 20 pockets and other varieties at 1 in 10.     

The Resistance of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoaWilld.) to Adverse Abiotic Factors

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoaWilld.) has been cultivated in the Andean region for thousands of years, providing highly nutritious food to poor farmers in the Andes. The conditions for crop growth are very difficult in the high region of the Andes, where the most harmful abiotic adverse factors that affect crop production are drought, frost, soil salinity, hail, snow, wind, flooding, and heat.

Quinoa can grow with only 200 mm of rainfall in pure sand. Fourteen lines with improved drought resistance have been identified, and several drought-mediating mechanisms have been found. The crop has also demonstrated unusually high salt tolerance; many varieties can grow in salt concentrations as high as those found in seawater (40 mS cm^?1), and four lines have been identified with even higher tolerance. Quinoa also has a high degree of frost resistance, surviving ?8°C for up to 4 hours, depending on phenological phase and variety.     

DETECTION OF THE SULPHURING OF HOPS DURING KILNING AND CULTIVATION

Since brewing companies are now reluctant to accept hops treated with sulphur during kilning and cultivation, methods have been developed for detecting such contamination. In the procedure for estimating residual elemental sulphur, milled hops are continuously extracted with cyclohexane and dissolved sulphur is deposited on copper gauze as copper (I) sulphide. Hydrogen sulphide is then formed by the addition of hydrochloric acid and is absorbed in potassium hydroxide solution. The dissolved sulphide is finally estimated by titration using p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and diphenylthiocarbazone as indicator. The modified Monier Williams procedure, as recommended by the Institute of Brewing for estimating sulphur dioxide in beer, has been adapted for analysing hops. This provides a convenient technique for determining whether or not hops have been treated with sulphur or sulphur dioxide during kilning. The sulphur dioxide content of fresh hops treated at normal rates is of the order of 800 mg/kg. A number of samples of hops from the 1980 crop have been analysed and the levels of sulphur dioxide were found to be within the range 1 to 80 mg/kg. It is likely that these low levels are the result of using fuel oils, which contain variable amounts of sulphur, to dry the hops.