(TDB) - The US is now home to the world’s largest crops of hops, knocking Germany from the top spot for the first time in half a century.

For the first time in nearly 50 years, the USA has become the world’s biggest hop-growing country by acreage, which jumped 18% to 18,478 hectares last year, ousting Germany from the top spot for the first time since 1967.

According to an annual report from German-based hop trader the Barth-Haas Group, the US also became the top hop producer by volume in 2015, producing 36,389 tonnes, up 12% from the previous year. In comparison Germany’s output fell 26% to 28,337 tonnes after a severe drought hit the crop.

Overall, global beer production decreased in by 1.5% to 1.9 billion hectolitres in 2015, however hop acreage increased by just under 7% worldwide.