Fuggles facing an uncertain future

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Interesting but brief article in CAMRA's What's Brewing newspaper for May about how the acreage for Fuggles continues to decline. Not grown in South East England any more, all growing is now done in the West Midlands, primarily because of sensitivity to verticillium wilt.

Interestingly Sovereign, a much more modern cultivar, is taking over with growers as an "English" hop of choice.

The end could be nigh for Fuggles, although given their place in the English brewing psyche this is unlikely. Fuggles were once grown in vast quantities in Ireland, as Kilkenny Seedless Fuggles (KSF), mostly around Bennetsbridge in Co Kilkenny.