Summary Evaluation of Czech Hops Harvested in 2015. Part I: Contents of α- and β-Bitter Acids

Abstract

The contents of α- and β- bitter acids from hops harvested in the Czech Republic in 2015 have been evaluated. Samples originated from all growing areas – Žatec, Úštěk and Tršice (77.4 %, 10.8% and 11.9% of the hop garden areas in the Czech Republic). The tested varieties, Saaz (ŽPČ), Sládek, Premiant, Agnus, Kazbek and Saaz Late were cultivated on 87.4%, 5.8%, 3.9%, 0.8%, 0.4 and 0.7 of the harvest areas respectively. Samples were analyzed in accordance with the Analytica EBC, method 7.7 (HPLC), all results are given in weight % in dry matter. The average value of α-bitter acids in the Saaz hops (2,15%) was 0.81% (27.4% rel.) and 1.41% (39.6% rel.) lower when compared to the year 2014 and to the average of the 22 years respectively. The content of β-bitter acids (3.24%) was 1.10 % (25.3% rel.) lower when compared to the year 2014 and 1.41 % (30.3 rel.) lower to the long-term average. The content of α-bitter acids in the Sládek hops (5.09%) was 0.71% (12.2% rel.) and 1.50 % (22.8% rel.) lower when compared to the harvest in 2014 and to the average of the 12 years respectively. The content of α-bitter acids in the Premiant hops (6.59) was in 0.63% (8.7% rel.) and 2.36% (26.4% rel.) lower when compared to the harvest in 2014 and to the average of the last 12 years. The content of α-bitter acids in the Agnus hops (10.5) was higher in 0.81% (8.4% rel.) and 0.80% (7.1% rel.) lower when compared to the harvest in 2014 and to average of last seven years. The content of α-bitter acids in the Kazbek hops was 4.59% and the content in Saaz late hops was 2.17%.

Keywords

• hops harvest
• Saaz hops
• α-bitter acids
• β-bitter acids