Hops project to target high-end craft beer
Taxpayer funds of $5.3 million will be used over the next seven years to develop top-quality hops for the country’s craft beer business.
The brains behind the drive to produce the hops say they want to replicate the success of the wine industry and make New Zealand craft beer into a sought-after global brand.
Wellington craft brewers Garage Project and Nelson hop-growing business Freestyle Farms have joined forces in an enterprise called Ha¯ pi Research, which aims to develop the hops to create beer for high-end markets.
Ha¯ pi is the Ma¯ ori name for hops, the flowers that give a beer its particular flavour.
Ha¯ pi Research will invest $7.95m in the project, with the balance of $5.3m coming from the Government.
Freestyle Farms director David Dunbar said the funds would be spent on research into new precision agriculture practices and processing methods.
‘‘By collaborating across industries we’ll accelerate development of unique Kiwi hops, promote uniquely New Zealand craft beer and open up new areas to hop growing,’’ Dunbar said.
The $13.25m total project is being funded under the banner of the Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) series of programmes. Dunbar said Freestyle Farms and Garage Project had initiated the programme, but other like-minded businesses and research partners would join.
Only New Zealand growers would be licensed to grow the hops that come out of the project.
Garage Project chief executive Tom Greally said Ha¯ pi Research wanted to create a point of difference for New Zealand-grown hops and craft beer.
‘‘Through the programme,’’ he said, ‘‘we want to understand the unique chemical compounds of our hops that produce New Zealand flavours, and how to best accentuate them in finished beer.’’