Hop Champion Hat trick for Hawkins Farming
Herefordshire hop grower, Sarah Hawkins and her team at Hawkins Farming, have achieved an outstanding accolade by winning Champion Hop at the prestigious Chartered Institute of Brewing and Distilling (CIBD) Hop Awards for the third time in a row. Judged on 20th November 2024 by a panel of head brewers from leading UK breweries, the competition celebrates the finest quality UK hops and the considerable skill and expertise of the growers behind them.
The winning hop, Harlequin®, is a product the Charles Faram Hop Development Programme, which is renowned for producing innovative, high-performing hop varieties to bring better yields, aromas, flavours and sustainability benefits. The award highlights the exceptional quality and unique flavour profile of Harlequin, which continues to gain popularity in the brewing community with the intended goal of competing against the highly aromatic hops currently being imported from the USA and Southern Hemisphere.
After the award ceremony on Friday 17th January at Purity Brewing’s PureCraft bar in Birmingham, Sarah Hawkins, the winner and owner of Hawkins Farming, expressed her gratitude and pride, attributing the farm’s success to the unwavering dedication and expertise of Farm Manager Matthew Bailey and his assistant Philip Fergus. “This win truly belongs to Matt and Philip. Their commitment to excellence and deep knowledge of hop farming are the heart of our success. I couldn’t be prouder of their work,” she said.
L-R Philip Fergus, Sarah Hawkins, Matthew Bailey celebrating their win at PureCraft Bar & Kitchen in Birmingham
The achievement is a triumph not only for Hawkins Farming but also for the broader UK hop industry, showcasing outstanding quality produced by growers after what proved to be an exceptionally difficult growing season and harvest period.
Celebrating a Harmonious Supply Chain: Flo Vialan, Head Brewer at Purity Brewing, stands with award-winning growers of the hops used in Purity Brewing’s beer and the Purity Brewing PureCraft Manager – showcasing the relationships, traceability, and localism in every pint.
L-R Simon Parker, PureCraft Manager Matt Lockren, Richie Phillips, and Sarah Hawkins
For more information about Charles Faram, Hawkins Farm, and the Harlequin hop, please visit www.charlesfaram.com
About Hawkins Farm
The Hawkins family have been at The Farm, Bosbury since the mid 1940’s but the earlier generations were based at farms in both Herefordshire and Kent. They’re very keen on experimenting with new varieties and new and sustainable ways of producing the crop. Sarah’s young sons, John and Henry Hawkins will be the sixth generation of hop growers and they already take a huge interest in the hops.
About Charles Faram
Charles Faram is a leading supplier of hops, hop products, and related brewing ingredients. With a history spanning 160 years, the company is dedicated to supporting farmers, developing new hop varieties, and helping brewers to create great beer!
About the CIBD Hop Awards
The Chartered Institute of Brewing and Distilling (CIBD) Hop Awards celebrates the finest in hop production and innovation. Judged by industry experts, the awards aim to recognise
excellence in hop quality, support the hop-growing community, and highlight the essential role of hops in the brewing process.
About the CIBD
The Chartered Institute of Brewers and Distillers delivers Gold-standard Technical Qualifications and support programmes for the beverage industries that are recognised around the world.
