Hop Products Australia (HPA) has announced its inaugural Premiere Crop of the Hops online charity auction has raised $10,000 for beyondblue: Man Therapy to help combat the challenges faced by rural Australians.
Picked yesterday and weighing in at 100kg, 2014's first bale of HPA Galaxy hops attracted bids from national and international brewers, with the final amount raised more than four times the proprietary hop’s market value.
HPA managing director Tim Lord said: “The success of the auction, and the way the brewing community has really got behind the cause, has been overwhelming. We’re proud to have helped put a spotlight on of the significant mental health challenges men face, particularly in rural Australia.”
“We can’t wait to see the auction come to life when we’re lifting a glass of beer brewed using the first Galaxy of 2014 – truly paddock to pint,” said Lord.
The donation comprises 100 per cent of the proceeds from the auction along with a donation from HPA.
Galaxy is a proprietary hop variety bred and grown by HPA, Australia’s largest grower of specialty and bittering hops, on its Tasmanian and Victorian farms. It has become the flavour backbone for many craft beers, with unprecedented global demand.
beyondblue spokesperson Greg Barns said he was delighted to accept the donation.
“70 per cent of Aussie men who have symptoms of depression or anxiety don’t get the help they need. Research shows many think that admitting they are struggling with mental health issues is weak."
“Man Therapy is aimed at bringing men up to speed about depression and anxiety via the great Australian tradition of using humour to deal with tough issues. The website is hosted by the irreverent, man's man Dr Brian Ironwood, a fictional character who urges men to take charge of their mental health and get their life back on track.”
With the potential to hop 60,000 bottles of beer, the bale was broken down into 10 x 10kg lots and purchased by a number of local breweries and Far West brewery all the way from San Francisco.
Winning bidders
– Crown Lager, VIC
– Malt Shovel, NSW
– ENDEAVOUR Beers, NSW
– Far West, California, USA
– Stone & Wood, NSW
– Bright Brewery, VIC
– Bootleg Brewery, WA