International Demand Pushes Northwest Hop Acreage Higher

According to NASS, over 60,000 acres of hops were strung this season across the Pacific Northwest, a record high, and a 4% increase from last year. Jaki Brophy with Hop Growers of America said the increase in acreage is thanks to customer demand. She added some of the acres reported in 2021 were actually added last year, but was not strong enough for 2020’s harvest.

"Some of it was that contracts that were already negotiated that were built in to start this year, but all commercial hop acreage is based on contracts with brewer customers."

Brophy said the jump in acres has made many in the industry both excited and optimistic about the future. She noted the U.S. is historically a large producer of hops domestically and internationally.

"Traditionally we've been 1/3 of the global supply and thanks to increased demand over the past year, we've been closer or at 40% of the world's supply. With beer styles like IPAs, pale ales, it's just increased the demand for American hops.”

This year, like in years past, Washington accounts for most of the Northwest acres at 43,380. Idaho reported 9,784 acres for 2021, while Oregon growers strung up 7,571 acres. All three state reported a year over year increase in acreage.

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