Hongcheon-gun, "Successful Mass Propagation of Native 'Hop' After 30 Years"‥ Challenge to Brew 'Handcrafted Beer'

Concurrent Research on Yeast Cultivation and Beer Yeast

Hongcheon-gun, Successful Mass Propagation of 'Native Korean Hops' [Provided by Hongcheon-gun]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Youngcheol] The Hongcheon-gun Rural New Vitality Plus Project Promotion Team announced on the 26th that they have "successfully mass-propagated native Korean hops cultivated in an eco-friendly manner."

'Hops' are the female flower cones called 'lupulin' of perennial climbing plants in the mulberry family, which are added to give beer its distinctive aroma and bitterness.

The promotion team especially commissioned genetic analysis of the mass-propagated hops and received recognition that these native Korean hops do not overlap with any varieties worldwide, and they are also proceeding with a plant patent application.

The mass-propagated hops were originally growing on a mountain in Naechon-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, discovered by local residents, and this result was achieved after continuous research.

The promotion team plans to harvest the hops by the end of August and will collaborate with local producers to take on the first domestic challenge of brewing craft beer using native Korean hops.

Along with the first cultivation of native Korean hops, they are also conducting research on culturing yeast selected in Hongcheon-gun for use as beer yeast.

The promotion team plans to support eight farms that have completed hop cultivation training with hop seedlings and facilities, develop distinctive hop cultivation techniques using organic farming methods, and officially distribute them to farms starting next year.

Heo Pilhong, the mayor of Hongcheon-gun, said, "After hops disappeared from Hongcheon in 1990, we have achieved a great success by mass-propagating about 3 tons of hops again in Geomsan-ri, Seoseok-myeon after 30 years," adding, "We expect the Rural New Vitality Plus Project to get on track once the H.O.P.E Center, a craft beer factory and experience center, and hop infrastructure are completed next year."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.