At the end of a long summer’s day, many people feel there’s nothing more refreshing than enjoying one of their favorite brews. From Saratoga to Buffalo, New York is home to hundreds of small, locally sourced breweries. To further support this craft brewing industry, I’ve been advocating for the development of New York-specific hops breeds. Homegrown hops varieties would benefit consumers, brewers and farmers alike, and also be better suited to the state’s climate and resistant to regional plant diseases.

With this goal in mind, I sat down in January of 2020 with state hops farmers, local brewers, including Heritage Hill Brewhouse in Pompey, and representatives from Cornell to discuss the need for New York-bred hops varieties and how to go about creating these breeds.

In 2012, the farm brewing law was passed to increase demand for locally grown products, grow the craft alcohol industry, and create new businesses.[1] It was based on a Farm Brewery billI originally authored in 2010, attempting to replicate the success NY State wineries experienced due to similar legislation in 1978. Under this new brewing law, brewers could get a farm brewery license if the beer is made primarily from locally-grown farm products.[2] Under this license, brewers do not need an additional permit to serve beer by the glass, which has the highest returns for brewers in terms of sales.[3] In addition, license holders are able to establish five branch offices where they can sell their products and other New York State labeled alcoholic beverages by the bottle, while also allowing them to have retail shops and sell at farmers markets.

Right now, craft brewing is one of the fastest growing segments of New York’s craft beverage industry, with over 440 licensed breweries across the state contributing 20,000 full-time jobs and producing 1.2 million barrels of craft beer annually.[4] However, as this industry has grown, demand from consumers for locally-sourced craft beers has grown as well, and New York craft breweries have struggled to keep up, partially because of a lack of New York-developed hops varieties.[5] Importantly, under the state law, New York craft breweries must get at least 60% of a its hops and 60% of all other ingredients from New York State growers to receive a state farm brewery license.[6] This has become increasing difficult as most of the consumer preferred hops varieties come from places like Oregon and Michigan, with patent holders charging New York brewers for their use. This is yet another incentive to develop New York-specific hops breeds.

Now, after a year of advocacy, the New York State hops breeding project found another strong supporter in Assembly Agricultural Committee Chair Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell). With her support and my advocacy, we were able to secure $350,000 for the Cornell Hops Breeding Research and Extension Program in the 2021-22 state budget. This investment will help propel New York’s brewing industry to even greater heights. Though the development of such a breeding program may take a few years, it will expand opportunities for current and future New York based breweries, as well as expand agricultural production and provide a boost to local economies.

Since the passage of the farm brewing law in 2012, the growth of this industry in New York State has been drastic. Despite any challenges our brewers and farmers face, I’ll continue to work to provide the resources they need to continue growing this industry and boosting our state economy.

If you have questions about this or another community issue, my door is always open. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at StirpeA@nyassembly.gov or by calling 315-452-1115.

[1] newyorkcraftbeer.com/farm-brewery/

[2] Ibid

[3] Ibid

[4] chronicle-express.com/story/news/2021/06/21/new-hops-breeding-program-grow-develop-signature-ny-varieties/7722964002/

[5] Ibid

[6] Ibid