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Bless these hops - Hogs Back Brewery

Bless these hops

There was a terrific turnout for yesterday’s Hop Blessing. 

Crowd at the Hogs Back Brewery hop blessing

We were delighted Rev. Claire Holt from St Paul’s Church in Tongham once again conducted the blessing – a traditional ceremony to encourage a bounteous harvest – on Ascension Day.

Hop Blessing ceremony

Over 200 guests gathered to join in with the ceremony.   

Rupert and Rev Holt addressing the crowd gathered for the hop blessing
After a brief welcome from Rupert, it was over to Rev. Holt to officiate and lead the prayers...
...after which all glasses were raised in a toast to an abundant harvest.
Matthew enjoys a pint of beer at the hop blessing

Rev. Claire Holt has had a long association with the brewery and the hop garden, having officiated over the very first blessing when our hop garden was planted in 2014 and once again in 2019 when the hop garden was relocated.  She has even conducted a “virtual blessing” when lock down restrictions meant that only a handful of friends and family could attend.

The ceremony is linked to the ancient tradition of “beating the bounds” to share the knowledge of the parish boundaries as well as to bless the crops and pray for the protection of the parish. 

Crowd at the Hogs Back Brewery hop blessing

Gatherers stayed to enjoy a pint and the sizzling BBQ, as well as the non-alcoholic homemade hop lemonade, created by Chef Ben specially for the occasion.

Here’s to another bumper hop harvest in 2022!

To keep up to date with all the news from the hop garden and the Brewery, sign up to our newsletter below and follow us @HogsBackBrewery on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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