The United Kingdom has a long history of brewing and hop growing. Many of the ales, porters and stouts brewed in England have a unique character and often are more highly hopped than are typical American lagers. Growing areas are the West Midlands, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and in the South East, Kent and Sussex. 5.8 million pounds are produced annually.

Major aroma varieties include Fuggle and Goldings. Named after the men who developed them in the 19th century, in recent years, these hops have suffered from wilt and mildew. The Hop Research Institute at Wye College has done much work on improving these hops by selection and developing new varieties.

Professor E. S. Salmon pioneered the development of high alpha-acid, bittering hops in the early years of this century by the then-revolutionary approach of hybridizing wild hops from North America with European breeding lines. The varieties Bullion, Brewers Gold and Northern Brewer which resulted from this approach continue to be grown throughout the world.

The Fuggle was propagated in Kent by Mr. Richard Fuggle in 1875. It became the most widely grown hop in England (in 1949 it made up 78% of the English hop acreage) until Verticillium Wilt made growth almost impossible in much of Kent and Sussex. Now is represents only about 9% of the English crop, being grown chiefly in the West Midlands. The variety is also grown in the U.S. and in Slovenia, where it has adapted its character and is known as Styrian Golding. Perhaps the most famous and revered on English hops, Fuggle has the typical "English flavor." This robust hop contributes all the essential characteristics of flavor, aroma and balanced bitterness to ales, particularly as its relatively low alpha acid content requires a high hopping rate to a achieve desired bitterness levels. Sometimes used as a distinctive dry hop. Fuggle has an average alpha range from 4 to 5.5%.

Goldings with an alpha range from 4.5 to 6.5%, consist of a group of traditional English varieties which have been cultivated for a long time. These include Cobbs, Amos' Early Bird, Eastwell Golding, Bramling, Canterbury Golding and Mathons, and are usually named after either a hop grower or the parish where they were first cultivated. Goldings are recognized as having the most typical English aroma, with the best flavor and aroma historically coming from East Kent, as the sub-variety East Kent Golding. Goldings are used for kettle hopping and dry hopping of traditional ales, and also are useful for late hoping of lagers when a delicate aroma is desired.

First Gold is a new aroma variety. Developed at Wye College from a cross pollination of WGV and a dwarf male, it underwent extensive field trials in 1995. First Gold has a very attractive aroma which some liken to Goldings but with a higher alpha content than traditional aroma hops. Early brewing trials indicate that First Gold is an extremely exciting prospect. The variety is suitable both as a general kettle hop and also for late and dry hopping in all types of beer.

First Gold has excellent aroma qualities and much of the flavor character of WGV seems to have been retained, producing a well balanced bitterness and a fruity, slightly spicy note in ales. Typical alpha range is 6.5% to 8.5%, and a beta range from 3.0 to 4.1%. It is tolerant to Wilt and resistant to Powdery mildew. It is a dwarf variety which can be grown on low wirework systems to reduce the costs of production and increase the efficiency of pest and disease control.

WGV was selected, as a seedling, in 1911 by Mr. E. A. White from a variety called Bates' Brewers. It demonstrates significant tolerance to Verticillium Wilt. It provides a distinctive sweet fruit flavor in beers, similar to but generally more pronounced and robust than Goldings. Bramling Cross was bred in 1927 by Professor Salmon at Wye from a Bramling, one of the traditional Golding varieties and Manitoban, a Canadian wild hop. The variety has been used to provide special fruity, black currant and lemon notes in traditional ales, especially Christmas ales. Progress was released in 1964 to provide a wilt tolerant alternative to Fuggle, with a character similar to Fuggle but slightly sweeter.

Mid-range or dual purpose varieties are Northern Brewer, plus Wye Challenger, Wye Northdown and Zenith. Northdown is grown both seeded and seedless, in England and seedless in Ireland. It is an excellent dual purpose hop. Challenger has heavy yields and a fruity almost scented aroma, with some spicy overtones making it a versatile kettle hop for all types of beer. Alpha range is 6.5 to 8.5%.

Several new high alpha varieties have recently been developed in England. Phoenix was developed as a seedling of Wye Yeoman. It has an aroma similar to Wye Challenger, alpha of 7 to 9%.

Admiral matures earlier and yields considerably better than Target in terms of alpha acid per acre. It is tolerant to Wilt, has a very high alpha range, from 11.5 to 14.5%, and has good storage characteristics. Herald is the first high-alpha dwarf hop bred at Wye College with acceptable flavor characteristics. Pioneer is a sister of Herald, with a clean, mild and well balanced bitterness, and a typical English aroma.

Older English high alpha varieties include Wye Target, Yeoman and Omega. Target, with an alpha of 11.2% and a high essential oils content is a good extract hop. Resistant to Wilt it is grown on 40% of the English hop acreage. It is naturally low in seeds and a portion is now grown seedless. While Bullion and Brewers Gold were both developed in the United Kingdom, their use has declined there, as it has in the U.S.

English hops, particularly the East Kent Golding, are in considerable demand by U.S. brewers for various traditional ales.

Czech Republic

Saazer are the original lager hop used in the production of the Pilsner beers in the town of Plzen, birthplace of the pils lager beers.

The true Saaz hops are grown in the area around Zatec, north of Plzen and west of Prague, although this variety is also grown in other districts of the Czech Republic. There were about 28,500 acres producing 6159 metric tons for crop 2004. Saazer varieties are also grown in other areas of Eastern Europe including Poland, Ukraine and Russia.

Actually there are a number of sub-varieties of Saazer hops grown in the Zatec region as there has been continual selective work and research on improving the breed. They are Lucan, Blato, Osvald, clones No. 31, 72 and 114, Zlatan, Podlesak and Blsanka.

Saaz have a fine, traditional, mild, slightly spicy aroma. They are mostly used to provide final excellence of hop flavor and aroma in premium Pilsner beers. Saaz are reasonably tolerant to wilt, but susceptible to downy mildew and red spider mite. As with many noble European varieties the alpha of Saaz hops is low, ranging from 3.0 to 3.9%. 3.6% is typical.

Saaz have not yet been grown successfully in the United States. Considerable work and testing is being done in the U.S. to produce a triploid Saazer type with Saaz's unique characteristics which will grow with acceptable yields in the Pacific Northwest.

Slovenia

Styrian Goldings are grown in the Savinja River Valley of Slovenia, Celji is the principle city in the region. Previously one of the regions of Yugoslavia, Slovenia is now an independent country. It is situated well north and west of that part of Yugoslavia now called Bosnia-Herzegovina and has not been affected by the fighting. This hop, believed to have been derived in the 19th century from English Fuggles is a favorite of several U. S. brewers.

Styrian Goldings have a very distinctive, mild flavour, somewhat richer than English Goldings and Fuggles and an average alpha of 4.5 – 4.9%.

Super Styrian is a high alpha hop that is not related to the Styrian Goldings. They, like many high alpha hops, are a Northern Brewer derivative.