What is AromaFest?
AromaFest is an annual event hosted by Charles Faram, one of the UK’s leading hop growers and merchants. It brings brewers together to evaluate and provide first-hand feedback on new hop varieties emerging from their breeding program. These events take place across the UK and Europe, allowing brewers to play a crucial role in shaping the future of hop farming.
This year, our local gathering was held at WEST Brewery in Glasgow, right by the mighty River Clyde and the stunning Glasgow Green. It was the perfect setting for a day of hop exploration and industry insights.
What Happens at AromaFest?
With around 15,000 new hop plants bred each year, only the most promising make it to AromaFest. Many are eliminated due to poor aroma, weak disease resistance, or difficult growing characteristics. By the time we get to evaluate them, we’re looking at the very best contenders, just 16 new varieties at this year’s Glasgow event!
The assessment process is hands-on—literally. We’re given whole dried hop flowers, which we rub between our hands to release their essential oils. Then, we score them based on aroma intensity, character, and any distinct notes we pick up. This feedback is invaluable to hop breeders and growers, helping them refine their selections and develop the next generation of game-changing hops.
Why New Hops Matter to Brewers
Hop breeding is no easy task. The flavours and aromas of newly bred plants can vary wildly from their parent hops, making it a long and selective process to find the best varieties. Once a promising hop is identified, it can only be propagated through cuttings—each new plant essentially being a clone of the original. Even then, it takes about five years of testing and refinement before a new hop makes it to market.
Hops are the heart of beer, contributing bitterness, aroma, and even some preservative qualities. The hop varieties we choose define the unique flavour profiles of our beers its what makes our Tizzie Whizie distinct from our Blonde, for example. Beyond flavour, new hop varieties must also be assessed for disease resistance, crop yield, and climate suitability.
The Push for More Locally Sourced Hops
Currently, many of the most popular hops used in Pale Ales and IPAs originate from the USA, Australia, and New Zealand—regions known for producing bold, fruit-forward hop varieties. At Great Corby Brewhouse, we use American hops in Tizzie Whizie and Signal Peak, and in past years, we’ve experimented with Australian hops in our Limited-Edition Skippy and New Zealand hops in our Charity brew, 3 Dads Walking Over Water.
But why import when we can grow incredible hops right here? Our own Saddleback (returning in late March/early April 2025!) showcased that British hops can stand toe-to-toe with their international counterparts. By supporting local hop growers and investing in their development, we could one day source 100% of our ingredients for beers like Tizzie Whizie right here in the UK. That’s why events like AromaFest are so important—to ensure we have a say in the future of British hop farming and brewing.
The Future of British Hops Looks Bright
Over the past two years, we’ve seen some incredible progress in British hop breeding. The new varieties we assessed this year showed huge potential, with aromas ranging from orange and passionfruit to lime and gooseberry.
With so much innovation happening, the future of British hops is looking stronger than ever. I can’t wait to see how these new varieties develop—and even more so, I can’t wait to start brewing with them when they finally hit the market!
Stay tuned for more updates, and keep an eye out for Saddleback’s return this spring.
