CHAPTER XIV 



GRADING AND MARKETING HOPS 



^ FVE different parades are rec- 

 ognized in all hop markets 

 of this country and England, 

 both by the buyers and 

 brewers, and they are classi- 

 fied as follows: Fancy, 

 choice, prime, medium, poor. 

 It takes considerable practi- 

 cal experience to be able to 

 determine the quality of a 

 hop and place it in its proper 

 grade. There is no means of testing, and one is 

 compelled to use his judgment, as well as the 

 senses of seeing, smelling and feeling, as the ap- 

 pearance, flavor and feel of a hop are all essen- 

 tial features to determine its brewing qualities. We 

 have been unable to "ind a single buyer of hops in either 

 America, England or Europe, who employs chenn'- 

 cal analysis as a basis for judging the quality or value 

 of hops. In fact, it is generally recognized that the cor- 

 rect characteristics of hops cannot be quantitatively 

 measured, but are a matter of judgment. Now, because 

 judgment of quality may differ so much, and becaii^^^ 

 such differences do prevail, we have taken great pains 

 to get tlie views of leading growers, dealers, mer- 

 chants and brewers in the United States, Canada, Eng- 

 land and Europe upon this delicate subject. The con- 

 census of opinion seems to agree in a general way upon 

 the following as a fair statement of principles. 



U9 



