Beer History Storyline
Hops
Trace how hops developed from a regional brewing ingredient into a foundation of preservation, trade, agricultural science, and modern beer aroma.
Chronological milestones
Sources and further references are available on each individual event page.
736
Hallertau Hop Cultivation Is Traditionally Dated to 736
822
Corbie Abbey Statutes Link Hops to Brewing
1158
Hildegard of Bingen Describes the Preservative Power of Hops
June 26, 1364
Charles IV Authorizes a Tax on Hopped Beer in Utrecht
August 17, 1397
Utrecht Prohibits Selling Kuit as Hamburg Beer
1400
Hopped Beer Becomes a Major Hanseatic Trade Product
April 23, 1516
The Bavarian Beer Regulation of 1516 Is Issued
1538
Spalt’s Hop Seal Is First Documented
1806
James Squire Produces Hops from a Vine Cultivated in New South Wales
October 5, 1842
First Pilsner Urquell Brewday
1876
Modern Hop Growing Takes Root in the Lower Savinja Valley
1919
Ernest Stanley Salmon Selects the Hop Later Released as Brewer’s Gold
1926
The Society for Hop Research Is Founded at Hüll
1932
English Hop Growers Establish the Hops Marketing Board
1941
Mechanical Hop Pickers Rapidly Replace Hand Labor in Yakima
August 1, 1952
A Hop and Brewing Research Institute Is Founded in Žalec
1971
Farmworkers Organize Strikes in Yakima Valley Hop Fields
1972
Cascade Is Released as a New American Hop Variety
1973
Žatec Converts Its Hop-Processing Line to Type 90 Pellets
April 18, 1975
Anchor Brewing First Brews Liberty Ale
1980
Carlton and United Commissions a Liquid-CO₂ Hop-Extraction Plant
November 15, 1980
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Sparks The American Hop Revolution
1983
Sierra Nevada Introduces Bigfoot Barleywine
2007
Citra Is Released by the Hop Breeding Company
2009
Sierra Nevada Launches Torpedo Extra IPA Featuring the Hop Torpedo
March 2016
Maisel & Friends Launches Hopfenreiter
September 4, 2026
First Hopfenreiter Day Marks the Release of Hopfenreiter #11