Keyworth Early Season
Keyworths Early was bred by Prof Ernest Salmon at Wye College, Kent. It was selected in 1943 as one of the few varieties found to show moderate resistance to wilt disease. Following Institute of Brewing trials in 1945 and 1948 where it was considered to be just acceptable, the Hops Marketing Board arranged for propagation and distribution to farms in 1949 because of the urgent need for an early-season wilt tolerant variety. In 1949, 43 acres were planted but this area declined rapidly as the variety found little favour with brewers and production of the variety had ceased by 1962.
Flavour and Aroma
Pungent flavour
Characteristics
Grapefruit, lemon.
Bittering Characteristics
It has ‘Manitoban’ characteristics producing a pungent flavour with predominantly lemon and grapefruit notes.
Flavour Intensity
6 /10
Breeding
It was raised as seedling OJ47 in 1930 from open-pollinated seed collected from EE92 which was a granddaughter of wild Neomexicanus hop. It is a vigorous variety producing large, open, ragged cones. As its name suggests, it is early maturing.