Food Programme - Hops

English hops are enjoying a renaissance thanks to new varieties, greater demand for 'hoppy' ales and the incredible growth in micro breweries. Sheila Dillon enjoys some of the heady aromas and samples some new ales.

She visits Shepherd Neame, a brewery in Faversham, Kent and talks to head brewer, David Holmes, She visits farm owner Tony Redsell, whose family has been growing hops for over 50 years, and meets hop driers Derek Elvey and Peter Shead.

Sheila also talks to Dr Peter Darby about The National Hop Collection at Queen Court Farm, near Faversham.

In the studio, she is joined in the studio by Roger Protz, beer writer and editor of The Good Beer Guide, and Martin Dickie, brewer and co-owner of Brewdog Brewery, Fraserburgh.

Broadcast on:

BBC Radio 4, 4:00pm Monday 5th October 2009

Duration:

25 minutes

Available until:

12:00am Thursday 1st January 2099

Categories:

• Factual,
• Food & Drink