Last year, I shared my plans to create The Hopper’s Hop Bible, a hardback guide to the hops behind our favourite beers. Some of you kindly donated towards the project, with the promise that you’d appear in the book as your very own fictional hop.
You deserve an update on where things stand.
The channel’s grown considerably since then, and the investigative side of The Hopper Reviews has become a much bigger part of my work. Digging through documents, chasing answers and trying to get a straight response out of a press office takes rather more time than drinking a pint and pointing a camera at it.
Because of that, I’ve decided to postpone the hardback book until further notice. I’m sorry to those of you who’ve been waiting for it.
However, the Hop Bible itself is very much alive. Rather than leave all that research sitting out of sight, I’ve been developing a digital version on my NEW website, where I can add varieties, update information and make it searchable.
If you supported the project in return for becoming a fictional hop, your entry has still been created and is included in the digital Hop Bible. You’ve still been immortalised as a hop. You’re just living on a website rather than a bookshelf for now.
My plan is to test and develop the online version, explore whether a mobile app would be worthwhile, and return to the hardback book once the collection’s grown further. I can’t give you a publication date, and I don’t want to make another promise I can’t put a firm timescale on.
I also recognise that this isn’t what I originally offered. If you donated towards the book and would prefer your money back, please get in touch through Buy Me a Coffee and I’ll arrange a refund. No awkward explanation needed. You supported a particular project, and it’s only fair that you have that choice.
Anyone who’s donated to support my work is welcome to apply for free early access while I continue testing the digital Hop Bible.
Visit the page below and enter your name and email address in the application form at the bottom:
https://www.thehopperreviews.co.uk/hop-guide
Please use the name or email address associated with your donation where possible, so I can match your application to my records.
And yes, I’ve got the donation records, so suddenly remembering you sent me £100 and a brewery won’t get you very far.
Thank you for backing me, being patient and helping this project take shape. It’s taken a different route, but I still want to make something you’ll enjoy using and feel proud to have supported.
Cheers,
Rob / The Hopper