Vermont Brewers Award $20,000 Grant for Hops Research to UVM-Extension

The Vermont Brewers Association (VBA) is pleased to announce that they have awarded a grant of $20,000 to the University of Vermont ‘ Extension Program for hops research. Representing the members, the check was presented by Steve Polewacyk of the Vermont Pub & Brewery to Dr. Heather Darby at the 2013 Winter Hops Conference held on February 22, 2013 at the Essex Resort & Spa in Essex Junction, Vermont. This annual gathering brings together farmers, brewers and scientists from all over the region to foster the revitalization of the once thriving hops cultivation in Vermont.
In the presentation of the check Polewacyk said, ‘ We appreciate all that Dr. Darby and the folks at the hops and grain program have been able to accomplish so far, and we hope that this grant will help you in moving your research forward.’ Looking at the check, Dr. Heather Darby was very excited, and exclaimed, ‘ Wow, this is going to go a long way to help our research. This will benefit the farmers, the brewers and our researchers. What a wonderful gift!’
The award will be used to purchase an Ultraviolet Spectrophotometer, peripheral equipment, and to set up a specialized lab for testing the various attributes of hops. The University of Vermont will have someone operate the lab and maintain the equipment. Right now the program has to send the hops grown in their research yards out to a contractor in Washington State for testing. According to Dr. Darby, ‘ It costs us $6,000 per year to analyze samples from the research yard. This purchase would alleviate those costs for the long term. This is $6,000 we do not need to raise every year, essentially helping to create a more sustainable program.’
Steve Polewacyk pointed out that most of the funding for the hops and grains program comes from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, and it was important to show that the brewers are committed to this effort. He went on to add, ‘ This could be very important to us all. Although we all may not be reaping huge benefits from this program right now, supporting them at this time may very well help us all someday down the road. One way or another, funds from the VBA will show the Agency of Agriculture that we brewers are putting some skin in the game by supporting necessary equipment to move the industry forward.’
Springfield, Vermont ‘ Vermont Brewers Association 3.12.2013