Saaz Hops

Diplomacy&Trade has recently published a special section on the occasion of the Czech National Day with special emphasis on beer. This piece about the Czech Republic being the second major hop producing country in Europe has been provided by the Czech Embassy.

In the Czech Republic, there are three regions where hops are grown, of which the area around Žatec is the largest, making up more than 75% of country’s total hop acreage, about 5,000 hectares. Hop has been grown there for centuries. Saaz (Žatecký) hops are a favorite variety for brewing premium pilsner, lager beers.

Hop varieties are roughly classified in three distinct categories: aroma hops, dual-purpose hops (aromatic and bitter) and bittering hops (very bitter). Classification is based on the composition and qualities of resins (alpha and beta-acids, cohumulone and colupulone) and oils (myrcene and terpentes), contained in the female cones.

Only small number of hop varieties have historical roots, dating back to premodern times. These traditional varieties are called ‘noble hops’. The Saaz hops are one of the most popular and replicated varieties in the world. It is highly prized for its classic herbal, earthy and spicy aroma.

Saaz hops prove to be the mother of some of the other noble hop cultivars. This makes Saaz hops a queen among today’s noble hops. Saaz hops are characterized as fine aroma hops, being the best of the first category, have very fine genuine hoppy aroma, considered world standard of the best quality. Saaz hops bring to beer the final well-balanced taste and aroma, is unusually rich in polyphenols. The balanced rate of alpha and beta acids causes together with the unique content of hop oils the inimitable character of beer taste. Saaz hops are used as a factor forming the final equilibrium of the mass produced beers. Brewing servants from Bohemia produced beers in the Bohemian way, they made strong and bitter barley beers, using fine red hops (so called after their red bines – stalks). Bottom fermentation became the typical method and Bohemian beer was the most popular style. Saaz hops became the favorite variety for brewing pilsner beer style.

In form of pressed cone, hops or hop pellets are used for final hopping of beer at the end of brewing process (20 - 5 minutes before the end of brewing). Saaz hops bring to beer the final well-balanced taste and aroma. It is unusually rich in polyphenols. The balanced rate of alpha and beta acids causes, together with the unique content of hop oils, the inimitable character of beer taste. Saaz hop’s task is not reaching a certain beer bitterness but reaching the final desired beer taste.

At present, the purity and quality of Saaz hops are carefully watched by the national Hop Research Institute, located in Žatec. The Saaz hop variety is protected by EU-legislation and has a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).