Alpha Acids Content in Czech Hops from the 2025 Harvest - Forecasts, Reality and Trends
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18832/Keywords:
hops, alpha acids, Saaz hops, hybrid varieties, weather conditions, harvest forecastAbstract
The alpha acids content of Czech hops from the 2025 harvest was evaluated using pre-harvest forecasts, harvest forecasts and final analytical data obtained from more than 3,300 commercial and farm samples processed by three independent laboratories. Weather conditions during the 2025 growing season differed from those in 2024, mainly because of lower summer temperatures and lower precipitation totals during April-September, while September rainfall was high but had only a limited effect on harvest results. In the Saaz variety, the final alpha acids content reached 3.52% w/w in the Žatec region, 3.33% w/w in the Úštěk region and 3.23% w/w in the Tršice region, i.e. values higher than those recorded in the preceding three crop years and closer to the long-term typical range for this variety. Among the Czech hybrid varieties, the highest alpha acids contents were observed in Agnus, Vital and Rubín, while Sládek, Premiant, Kazbek, Saaz Late, Saaz Special and Saaz Shine also showed commercially relevant levels. The total production of alpha acids in the Czech Republic in 2025 was estimated at 297.8 t, with Saaz accounting for 59% of total alpha acid production despite occupying 82.1% of the harvested area. The results confirmed the dominant role of weather conditions, but also highlighted the effects of stand age, planting material and local environmental conditions on the final alpha acids content.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Karel Krofta, Alexandr Mikyška, Gabriela Fritschová, František Kroupa, Veronika Radilová
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