Fuggle Hop Plant

The Fuggle was propagated in Kent in 1875 by Richard Fuggle. It became the most widely grown hop in England and in 1949 made up 78% of the hop acreage until Verticillium wilt made growth almost impossible in much of Kent and Sussex. The variety is grown in the USA, mainly in Oregon, and in Slovenia, where it has adapted its character and is known as Styrian Golding. Perhaps the most famous and revered of English hops, it is very widely used in traditional English ales and is frequently used alongside Goldings, for which it forms a perfect base. It has the advantage of being very low in alpha acids and yet provides length, roundness and drink-ability. Excellent in every style of ale, the Fuggle brings particular sensuality to porters and stouts. It is often used as a dry hop so as to bring together flavours and provide character. Flavours attributed to it are: easy, grassy, sensuous, moreish. Single hop varietal examples are: Whitbread's Fuggles Imperial; Chiltern Brewery's John Hampden's Ale; George Gale's Prize Old Ale; McMullen's Gladstone bitter.