In the United States, total acreage of bitter-hop varieties declined slightly by 323 hectares compared with initial winter expectations. Among the newer private cultivars, Helios and HBC 1325 continued to expand, whereas established varieties such as CTZ and Apollo saw further acreage idling for the 2026 crop.
In Germany, Titan has become the country's third-largest bitter-hop variety by acreage, while Herkules and Magnum together declined by 428 hectares. At the same time, Polaris is increasingly finding its way into brewery recipes as an alternative bittering variety, driven by its favorable brewing characteristics, including its low co-humulone content.
Meanwhile, Taurus and Nugget have become niche varieties. Once one of the world's leading bitter-hop cultivars, Nugget now accounts for just 104 hectares across the United States and Germany combined. Breweries that have traditionally relied on Nugget or Taurus should consider Titan and Polaris as suitable low co-humulone alternatives. Trial quantities of Polaris are available, and our technical team will be happy to provide guidance on its application.
According to HVG Hops' estimates, the combined alpha-acid production potential of the United States and Germany is expected to remain stable at around 6,000 metric tons for the 2026 crop, assuming average yields in both countries.
