Successful Conclusion of the 2026 IHGC Congress in Germany – Post-Congress Event Took Participants to Tettnang
Following the main session of the International Hop Growers’ Congress (IHGC) in the Hallertau region, specifically in Ingolstadt, the post-congress event took place from July 30 to August 1, 2026, in Tettnang, Germany’s southernmost hop-growing region.
The event kicked off on Thursday with the participants’ arrival in Tettnang. Following a reception on the south terrace of the New Castle and a group lunch in the Knights’ Hall, the first item on the agenda was a visit to the Kronenbrauerei brewery. There, master brewer Fritz Tauscher, standing in the middle of the fountain, poured beer for the guests, who enjoyed the summer day comfortably around and even inside the fountain.
After checking into the hotel, the group toured BayWa’s hop pellet plant and gained additional insights into the company’s expertise in hail protection systems for fruit cultivation. This was followed by a guided tour of Hopfengut No. 20, featuring a “beer tasting to go,” which focused on the history and structure of the farm and its new event venue.
The guests rounded out the first day together with the hop growers of Tettnang during an atmospheric evening at Hopfengut No. 20. The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Knight of the Order of Hops to Mr. Bruno Bohner, the long-time research technician at the hop experimental field in Straß. The award was ceremoniously presented by the president of the IHB and accompanied by the unique music of the Tettnang Hop Growers’ Band.
On Friday, the participants toured the hop experimental field in Straß as well as the Ruther GbR hop farm and, in addition to the farms, received an overview of the history and present state of the Tettnang growing region, presented by the managing director of HPV Tettnang, Ms. Teresa Locher. After a barbecue for lunch, the excursion continued to the Schmidt Winery for a wine tasting, which offered an impressive view of Lake Constance and the Alpine foothills.
The subsequent boat ride on Lake Constance was a special experience. A storm warning added an extra touch of adventure to the trip and made it unforgettable for many. The day—and thus the final evening of the conference—concluded with a dinner right on the shore of Lake Constance at Werft1919—a convivial finale with live music and plenty of dancing, despite the exhausting conference days.
On the final day, the group first visited what is currently Europe’s largest agri-photovoltaic plant, under construction above an apple orchard. In addition to explaining the technical details, fruit and hop farmer Hubert Bernhard—on whose farm the project is being implemented—discussed the practical challenges and opportunities presented by this innovative combination of agriculture and energy production.
The group then proceeded to the Johannes Bentele family’s organic fruit and hop farm. There, visitors gained insights into the new harvest center, which features the first wooden drying tower of its kind, as well as the irrigation reservoir and the farm’s holistic irrigation concept. In addition, a unique hail protection net installed over a hop trellis system was showcased.
The post-conference event concluded with a group lunch in the beer garden of Gasthof Schöre, accompanied by traditional musical entertainment.
Some participants extended their stay and also attended the Tettnang Hop Hiking Day the following day, which once again drew several thousand beer and hop enthusiasts to the “Hop City.”
With this post-conference event, the IHGC 2026 came to a fitting close in the Tettnang hop-growing region!
Text: HPV Tettnang, Teresa Locher
Photos: Sebastian Bauer
