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This editorially independent podcast has been supported by VISITFLANDERS as part of the “Common Place” series of stories. Read more.
The mild maritime climate and fertile soil in the Westhoek have traditionally been ideal for growing hops. Hops are the flowers of the hop plant Humulus Lupulus, used as a bittering, flavouring, and stability agent in beer, with the ability to impart floral, fruity, or citrus flavours and aromas. Hops are vigorous climbers, trained to grow up bines which are most commonly harvested in Belgium in September. They are one of the main ingredients of almost every beer.
There are thirty five hop growers in Belgium, cultivating 184 hectares of hops: 25 hectares in Wallonia and 159 hectares in Flanders. Of those cultivated in Flanders, 136 hectares are grown around the outskirts of the city of Poperinge by a tight-knit community of sixteen hops growers. In short, hop growers in Poperinge deliver three quarters of the country’s hops.
In this episode, we explore the hop growing culture of the Westhoek, with hop farmers, brewers, and a hop queen hopeful.
We talk to Elien Rosseel, a hop queen contestant and agricultural consultant for the city. We chat to Carlo Boevaerts, a hop farmer in Poperinge. We interview Karel and Bruno Leroy, who are the eleventh generation of their family to make and sell beer in the Westhoek. And we ask Hans Vandeputte about his time working at the second oldest independent family owned brewery in Belgium.
In particular, we talk about Poperings Hommelbier, an iconic beer produced by Leroy Breweries which uses hops from Poperinge. And we ask whether it’s really the best beer to represent the region.
Sit back, listen, and enjoy the story of the one true beer of the Westhoek.
