YOUR PARTNER FOR HOP BUSINESS
ZATEC SEMI-EARLY
RED-BIN HOP
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Hops
are grown in many places in the world, but not all hop areas have the
quality and special properties of the Zatec area. This proves that not
only the vine variety, but also combination of natural conditions such
as location, soil, climatic conditions contribute to optimize their
quality. The tradition of thousand years of hop growing has a
substantial effect as well.
The uniqueness of the Czech Saaz Hops is given by specific
natural conditions, especially in the Saaz Area. This area is protected
from northwest by Krušné Mountains, Doupov Hills and Czech Mountains,
which create so-called rainshade. The yearly precipitation in average is
only 450 mm but spread at the same time very favorably to the growth of
hops. The average year temperature is 7,5° - 8,5° C. Together with the
natural and climatic conditions the soil has a considerable influence on
hop quality. There are mainly permian red soils and light drift soils a
specific feature of this hop area. The proper development of hop plants
is also influenced by the location of hop gardens altitude, location in
terrain relief, its slanting and relation to the cardinal points.
Inside of each hop area there are thus some areas particularly suitable
for hop growing i.e. where first
class
quality hops are produced: wide open valleys with the free air
streaming, well protected against the strong west and north winds.
Inside Saaz area the best locations are Golden Creek Valley (Údolí
zlatého potoka) and Woodland (Podlesí). In Auscha Area Polepy Marshland
(Polepská blata).
The basic quality is, naturally, given by the properties of
the "Zatecký poloraný èerveòák" variety (Zatec semi-early red-bine
hops). This is a variety with an exceptionally healthy base and genetic
purity. The specific characteristics of Zatec hops are the fineness,
perfect appearance, fine genuine hop aroma and golden colour,
designating the ripeness and health of the hops.
In a year of normal harvest, Zatec hops contain about 14 - 15
% of soft resins and about 4 % alpha-acid. From the brewer's point of
view not only the resins, but also other components, especially tannins
and essential oils contribute to the quality of beer.
Apart from alpha bitter acid there is a very important
betafraction in Saaz Hops. This fraction is more marked in Zatec hops
than in other hops (1,5 : 1). The results of our own and foreign
scientific experiments prove that a larger part of the B-fraction
changes by boiling into a soluble form. From tests conducted follows
that the higher proportion of the B-fraction in Zatec hops has a
significant influence on the typical fineness and pleasant bitterness of
beer.
The most characteristic feature of the Zatec semi-early
redbine hops is of course its aroma. Saaz Hop aroma is unique, mild hop
aroma, typical for this variety. The chemical analysis confirms again
its typical composition: One of the assets compared to other hop
varieties - could be considered a low content of myrcene and on the
other hand higher content of farnesene.
The importance of tannins should not be forgotten, too. Saaz
Hops has a higher contents of tannins than any other hops. The overall
character of Saaz Hops aroma is then given by the relation of all
components.
Owing to these properties, i.e. their capacity to impart to beer a fine
aroma and a pleasant bitterness, Zatec Hops are used by almost all
important breweries at least for the last hopping.
Consumers do not wish to see in beer only a means of
quenching thirst, but an important and pleasant nourishing product which
moreever furthers digestion and healthy sleep. Beers from Zatec hops are
intended for the most demanding customers - many breweries are indebted
to them for popularity of their beers.
A virus free hops programme started a few years ago and from
1994 virus free plants are grown on a number of hop gardens. Virus free
Meristem roots have been produced by well known methods such as
thermotherapy and imunnoenzymatic detection for individual viruses.
The results after 7 years: the average yield is higher by 28
%, the average alpha acid is higher by 48 %. Chemical analysis of the
hop's essential oils and resins confirm that the virus free hops have
retained the quality of Saaz fine aromatic hops.
