Hoptopia
In the first half of the twentieth century, Oregon’s Willamette Valley became one of largest hop producers in the world. Hops, whose cones flavor and preserve beer, were a relatively new addition to the agricultural landscape. Farmers first planted the crop in small acreages shortly after the Civil War to meet the needs of local brewers; then, after bountiful yields, quickly expanded their enterprise after finding ideal environmental conditions and viable transportation networks to reach larger markets. In the late nineteenth century, regional promoters claimed that farmers had caught “hop fever” and others suggested that the Willamette Valley was a “virtual garden spot” for hop cultivation. Upon this foundation and vast connections with people and goods from around the globe, the hop industry continued to expand, with farmers claiming the title “Hop Center of the World” by the early 1900s. Despite world wars, Prohibition, and the introduction of botanical pests and diseases, success has lasted to the present. In the past thirty years, the valley’s hop industry, aided by horticultural scientists, played a vital role in the craft beer revolution, because growers produced the hop varieties used to make distinctive beers. By making hops the central character in a wide-reaching history, this book aims to connect readers with their agricultural origins of the beers they drink and offer an enhanced sense of place for Portland and Oregon’s Willamette Valley.