The BC Hop Company is hoping to quench the thirst for a key ingredient in B.C.’s growing craft beer sector.
In an effort to provide the B.C. industry with a consistent supply of high-quality and local dry hops, the BC Hop Company is building a processing facility in Abbotsford that will include new technologies currently in use in Europe, .
Jati Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon, Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay, and member of the legislative assembly in B.C. for Abbotsford-Mission Simon Gibson announced $285,000 in funding for the Regional Hops Drying Kiln project through the Growing Forward 2 Canada-British Columbia Agri-Innovation program. The funding commitment was announced at a BeerBQ event at the BC Hop Company with hop fields in full bloom in the background.
The funding will be put towards innovative pieces of equipment that will kiln dry the hops under controlled conditions. The process helps reduce rancidity and the degradation of alpha acids and essential oils improving product colour and cone structure of the dried hops.
The technology is new to Canada and the goal is to produce a superior, world-class product so producers can remain competitive in both the local and international markets.