Evaluation of α- and β-Bitter Acids Content in Harvest of Czech Hops in 2017

Abstract

This article presents the results of the harvest forecast of the α- and β-acid content of the Czech hop varieties in the 2017 harvest (194 samples in total). Hops were analyzed using EBC 7.7 (HPLC) method. The results are discussed in relation to the long-term averages, structure of bitter acids analogs and stability of varietal character. The α-acid content of the Saaz variety (2.81% in dry matter) was 20% rel. lower than the 25-year average, the content of α-acids in the varieties with a later maturity date, Sládek, Premiant, Agnus, Kazbek and Saaz Late, was only slightly lower or comparable to the multi-annual averages. The ratio of α- and β-acids, the relative content of cohumulone and the relative content of colupulone were consistent with long-term averages for the tested varieties. The harvest forecast gives a timely information on the α-acids content of the harvest, the results were in good agreement with the results of the whole harvested hops.