HOPWALK® On Tour – A Celebration of Passion, Innovation and Hops
A big thank you to Charles Faram and, in particular, to Paul Corbett (Group Managing Director), Will Rogers (Group Technical Director), Sarah Hawkins (Hawkins Farming) and Richard Capper (Stocks Farm) for hosting an excellent HOPWALK® On Tour.
Charles Faram – A Legacy of Innovation
Founded in 1865 by Charles Shacklock Faram, the company has played a pivotal role in shaping hop supply in the UK. Farams were the first hop merchant to bring Cascade, Chinook, Nelson Sauvin and Citra to UK brewers, forever changing the flavour profile of British beer.
Constantly pushing forward, they continue to invest in sustainability and innovation. Their hop breeding programme is focused on developing new world flavours and aromas in locally sourced hops, combining tradition with modern brewing demands.
Recent investments include the installation of a new T90 hop pellet machine in 2024 and a 600sqm production mezzanine area—a leap forward that reduces a week’s worth of production to just one day.
Quality and Sustainability at the Core
Hop pellet production at Farams is seasonal, supported by a longstanding, skilled workforce. Quality is safeguarded at every stage: hops are nitrogen flushed, packed, and sealed in airtight bags within one minute, and transferred to cold storage within the hour. Nothing is wasted—most materials used are either recycled or recyclable.
The Freshpak machine handles both 5kg and 20kg bags of organic and non-organic hops. Cleaning is rigorous: 100 hours for Freshpak and 350 hours for T90 before switching to organic production. Every year, around 50,000 bags are produced, each weighed to exacting tolerances. Nitrogen back-flushing reduces oxygen levels to 0.6%, ensuring freshness and stability.
The cold store, operational since 2018, runs at 0°C. Sustainability drives efficiency, with 200kw of solar panels and a 70kw battery system installed. The store provides both short-term and long-term options (up to 5 years), allowing speculative buying and secure supply chains.
Touring the Hop Yards
The tour included three hop yards across Worcestershire and Herefordshire—two owned by Hawkins Farming Ltd and one by Stocks Farm Ltd.
At each site, the message was clear: hop growing requires a lifetime of passion, knowledge and commitment. Every hop variety demands careful management of agronomy, water, wind, pests and diseases. Yet, despite the dedication, the crop remains economically challenging. UK hop production has shrunk from 29,000 hectares in 1876 to just 470 hectares today.
Passing through Leigh Sinton, historically the hub of hop growing since the 1600s, reinforced how deeply rooted this tradition is. The local silty loam is ideal for hop roots, which can stretch up to 16ft deep.
2024 Growing Conditions
Will Rogers outlined the year’s unusual weather pattern. After a wet summer harvest in 2024, rainfall continued through winter and spring, setting up timely growth. But from April to August, high temperatures and lack of rain halted progress.
Two Hawkins hop yards, just miles apart, saw very different outcomes due to localised showers—a vivid illustration of how fragile the crop can be.
In a remarkable twist, rainfall restarted ripening at picking, forcing growers to halt —an occurrence unheard of in living memory.
Farm Innovations and Challenges
Hawkins Farming
Sarah Hawkins showcased new hop varieties under trial, some presented at the 2025 Aroma Fest. Detailed family trees showed breeding progress toward hops that can:
Other investments include a centralised picking and packing unit with a new kiln and picking machine. Drying times have been cut from 7 hours to 4 hours, reducing energy and labour costs while ensuring hops meet Farams’ 10% maximum moisture requirement.
Alongside hops, Hawkins also produce cider apples, Christmas trees, arable crops, and pedigree Herefords—but their commitment to hops remains steadfast, despite the crop’s unique challenges.
Stocks Farm
Founded in 1962 by Richard Capper’s father, Stocks Farm is now run by Richard and Ali Capper. The 200-acre farm splits evenly between hops and apples.
Here, the effects of clay loam soil and weather patterns were evident: while moisture was retained better than in sandier soils, high summer temperatures and drought still impacted yield.
Notably, the farm uses companion planting and has introduced predators to control spider mites. Some hop yards have been temporarily “idled” due to lack of demand, though only for a single year before growing them again becomes necessary.
With an automated baler, operations remain efficient, but the unpredictability of weather and demand adds constant complexity.
Research and the Future
Innovation remains central to Farams’ vision. PhD student Josh Brett is leading research on Biochar, funded by Farams, Asahi, and Sainsburys.
15,000 hop seedlings are grown annually, with only 2,000–3,000 selected for further trials. Each seedling is tested for 4–5 years before reaching commercial fields—a reminder of the patience and persistence required.
The Cooperative Spirit
All visited farms are part of Charles Faram Farms, a cooperative that has expanded from 12 to 21 members, now representing almost half of the UK’s hop farms. The group shares best practice, ensures transparent and fair pricing, and provides a united front for driving investment in the future of hops.
Final Thoughts
The HOPWALK® On Tour showcased not just the technical brilliance of Charles Faram, but also the resilience and dedication of UK hop growers. From innovation in pelletising and storage to the relentless pursuit of sustainability and new varieties, the industry is working tirelessly to adapt to changing conditions.
But one truth remains clear: hops are a marginal crop, requiring huge investment, long-term vision, and no shortage of risk. With weather challenges increasing and demand fluctuating, the need to support growers has never been greater.
Because at the end of the day: no hops, no beer.
