Growing my own hops this year. Experiences? I'll update this like a semi-blog.

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On the bright side, i'll be able to forage my own hop shoots in the coming weeks of solitude.

First shoots of the season! Yum yum

What do they taste like?

Sort of a cross between baby asparagus and bean sprouts. Really good sautéed in butter.
They're best if they don't get any chlorophyll, eventually they get tough and start tasting like grass.
I left a covering of leaves over them to inhibit sunlight, or else they start growing wildly too.

[thickfreakness]

Interesting and cool. 

[smellysell]

What do they taste like?

Hop shoots

[emerge]

Still have a bunch of hop shoots (bunch like a bunch of cilantro) in water, waiting to cook them up. Surprised I have this many still, only harvested 3 or so times. Probably harvested a pound or so of them total. Letting them grow now, already 12" plus.

[smellysell]

Mine are already about 4' up my lattice.

[Swabs]

Mine are already about 4' up my lattice.

You're really good at posting photos 

[smellysell]

Mine are already about 4' up my lattice.

You're really good at posting photos 

   

 

They look like hops... Growing up a lattice...

[emerge]

Mine are already about 4' up my lattice.

You're really good at posting photos 

   

 

They look like hops... Growing up a lattice...

But what color are they?

[smellysell]

Mine are already about 4' up my lattice.

You're really good at posting photos 

   

 

They look like hops... Growing up a lattice...

But what color are they?

Chartreuse

[emerge]

Hey little buddy! Stick around and lay a bunch of eggs, TIA

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First burrs 

[img height=400]http://i.imgur.com/hwekOS1.jpg[/img

First burrs popped Saturday on the 2 Columbus... 3 weeks earlier than last year. I'm thinking double harvest

First burrs popped yesterday, way earlier than last year.
[img width=600]http://i.imgur.com/ouCbOOR.jpg[/img

First burrs popped early this week, probably July 10-11th.
Slightly later this year since I harvested shoots longer than in previous years.
No pics, AIA.

Thinking i'll try for the staggered harvest (early & late) since everything at once was a bit much.

First burrs popped last week (July 4th). Just keeping track of the annual stats.
Note to self: follow own advice above

Have access to a vacuum sealer, so will go that route this year.

First burrs already, consistent with other years. Last year was a week early.

Annual first burrs report: They popped on July 2nd or 3rd, 2nd earliest on record.

[Jaysus]

I have pulled everything out of the ground twice already this year.... I still have sprouts popping up!!! 

Pretty sure that at this point, I am just going to give up and hang the trellis again

How deep did you dig?

When I pulled the crown out about two years ago, I was nearly 2' deep.  I sprayed all around it before I filled it back up too

GODDAMNIT... those mother fuckers are back!  Worse than bamboo, I tell you...  They migrated to the complete other side of my deck.

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Full size hops suddenly, must be the recent storms. Almost wet-hop season!

[borrowedladder]

Full size hops suddenly, must be the recent storms. Almost wet-hop season!

Wet-hopped, pumpkin Marzen anyone?

[stoney]

Full size hops suddenly, must be the recent storms. Almost wet-hop season!

Wet-hopped, pumpkin Marzen anyone?

Wash your dirty mouth out with soap. 

[emerge]

Full size hops suddenly, must be the recent storms. Almost wet-hop season!

Wet-hopped, pumpkin Marzen anyone?

Wasn't my idea...

Wet-hopped Hamms for life

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My plump babies.

[smellysell]

Mine are out of control as usual. Cones aren't as far along yet as SJ's though.

[wisconsinbeer1]

Brought down the Centennials yesterday. Willamette will probably be next week and Nugget probably a week or two after that.

[howardf]

Nice, though I feel there should be one floating in the glass.

[wisconsinbeer1]

Nice, though I feel there should be one floating in the glass.

I actually dropped a cone in and squeezed it out right after pouring it. Wasn’t thinking though, should have left it in for the pic.

Fun fact: that is a beer we brewed this spring using maple sap from my tree in place of the water and the hops were fresh hops we vacuum sealed and froze after we picked them last year. Turned out really well.

[emerge]

Nice, though I feel there should be one floating in the glass.

I actually dropped a cone in and squeezed it out right after pouring it. Wasn’t thinking though, should have left it in for the pic.

Fun fact: that is a beer we brewed this spring using maple sap from my tree in place of the water and the hops were fresh hops we vacuum sealed and froze after we picked them last year. Turned out really well.

Cool, looks good! How much weight did you get?

[howardf]

Nice, though I feel there should be one floating in the glass.

I actually dropped a cone in and squeezed it out right after pouring it. Wasn’t thinking though, should have left it in for the pic.

Fun fact: that is a beer we brewed this spring using maple sap from my tree in place of the water and the hops were fresh hops we vacuum sealed and froze after we picked them last year. Turned out really well.

That's an awesome idea

[wisconsinbeer1]

Nice, though I feel there should be one floating in the glass.

I actually dropped a cone in and squeezed it out right after pouring it. Wasn’t thinking though, should have left it in for the pic.

Fun fact: that is a beer we brewed this spring using maple sap from my tree in place of the water and the hops were fresh hops we vacuum sealed and froze after we picked them last year. Turned out really well.

Cool, looks good! How much weight did you get?

Weight of what?

[emerge]

Nice, though I feel there should be one floating in the glass.

I actually dropped a cone in and squeezed it out right after pouring it. Wasn’t thinking though, should have left it in for the pic.

Fun fact: that is a beer we brewed this spring using maple sap from my tree in place of the water and the hops were fresh hops we vacuum sealed and froze after we picked them last year. Turned out really well.

Cool, looks good! How much weight did you get?

Weight of what?

Hop cones.
Meant to reply to the harvest post. Running on 5 hrs. sleep

[wisconsinbeer1]

Nice, though I feel there should be one floating in the glass.

I actually dropped a cone in and squeezed it out right after pouring it. Wasn’t thinking though, should have left it in for the pic.

Fun fact: that is a beer we brewed this spring using maple sap from my tree in place of the water and the hops were fresh hops we vacuum sealed and froze after we picked them last year. Turned out really well.

Cool, looks good! How much weight did you get?

Weight of what?

Hop cones.
Meant to reply to the harvest post. Running on 5 hrs. sleep

Oof, I understand. We ended up with 1.5 lbs.

[emerge]

Nice, though I feel there should be one floating in the glass.

I actually dropped a cone in and squeezed it out right after pouring it. Wasn’t thinking though, should have left it in for the pic.

Fun fact: that is a beer we brewed this spring using maple sap from my tree in place of the water and the hops were fresh hops we vacuum sealed and froze after we picked them last year. Turned out really well.

Cool, looks good! How much weight did you get?

Weight of what?

Hop cones.
Meant to reply to the harvest post. Running on 5 hrs. sleep

Oof, I understand. We ended up with 1.5 lbs.

Nice

I like to muddle a couple cones in the glass, and pour in a basic lager. Smashing them is key, you release all the hop oils. After a couple minutes you get a ton of hop aroma and flavor. Not always pretty, but it's tasty.

Might have some cones ready by next week...

[emerge]

https://www.dogfish.com/shop/barware/randall-jr

Nothing you couldn't achieve with a travel mug and strainer, but the name has cachet I guess.

[emerge]

They grow up so fast.
Had to stare at them for awhile before harvest season starts.

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Cranked these out today...

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Chopped the last of them down last week. Hop aphids had started to fester sadly, but still harvested 90% of the plant. Always a relief when all the work is done, but kinda glum that they're gone for another 6 months.

Recently learned of this hop farm downstate, Sharp Mountain Hops. Kind of interesting as it's run by a career farmer instead of a new startup.
https://www.galesburg.com/entertainmentlife/20160817/local-farm-hops-on-craft-beer-trend

[emerge]

Need a scale model hop yard for your train set? This is awesome



Although it does just look like a bunch of tube brushes painted green...

[emerge]

On the bright side, i'll be able to forage my own hop shoots in the coming weeks of solitude.

First shoots of the season! Yum yum

What do they taste like?

Sort of a cross between baby asparagus and bean sprouts. Really good sautéed in butter.
They're best if they don't get any chlorophyll, eventually they get tough and start tasting like grass.
I left a covering of leaves over them to inhibit sunlight, or else they start growing wildly too.

First shoots started a week or two ago, 2 harvests already.

[emerge]

Longest shoot is 18”

[emerge]

Shoot-harvesting season is over, strung the rest of the ropes today. One has shot up 8 feet in a week or so.

[smellysell]

Shoot-harvesting season is over, strung the rest of the ropes today. One has shot up 8 feet in a week or so.

Is inane how fast they grow. Snow apparently doesn't phase them either.

[emerge]

Shoot-harvesting season is over, strung the rest of the ropes today. One has shot up 8 feet in a week or so.

Is inane how fast they grow. Snow apparently doesn't phase them either.

Damn, you still have snow??

[smellysell]

Shoot-harvesting season is over, strung the rest of the ropes today. One has shot up 8 feet in a week or so.

Is inane how fast they grow. Snow apparently doesn't phase them either.

Damn, you still have snow??

Again, not still. It's gone again now though.

[emerge]

So I transplanted my oldest cutting, had to be 3 years at this point. There was a thick coiled root in the bottom of the pot,  that unfurle(y)d to a good 24—32" or so. Decided to plant it by a side gate to grow over it, as the entrance to the backyard. I still have 3 more pots of cuttings...

[emerge]

So I transplanted my oldest cutting, had to be 3 years at this point. There was a thick coiled root in the bottom of the pot,  that unfurle(y)d to a good 24—32" or so. Decided to plant it by a side gate to grow over it, as the entrance to the backyard. I still have 3 more pots of cuttings...

Make that 2...one just crapped out, the plastic pot had poor drainage. Luckily I was able to salvage the good potting soil to transplant some root-bound flowers. Probably about 2 weeks before the burrs pop, still a few feet to go for the Cascade to get across the back deck. Time for fertilizer...

[emerge]

First burrs 

[img height=400]http://i.imgur.com/hwekOS1.jpg[/img

First burrs popped Saturday on the 2 Columbus... 3 weeks earlier than last year. I'm thinking double harvest

First burrs popped yesterday, way earlier than last year.
[img width=600]http://i.imgur.com/ouCbOOR.jpg[/img

First burrs popped early this week, probably July 10-11th.
Slightly later this year since I harvested shoots longer than in previous years.
No pics, AIA.

Thinking i'll try for the staggered harvest (early & late) since everything at once was a bit much.

First burrs popped last week (July 4th). Just keeping track of the annual stats.
Note to self: follow own advice above

Have access to a vacuum sealer, so will go that route this year.

First burrs already, consistent with other years. Last year was a week early.

First burrs popped a couple weeks ago, last week of June.

[emerge]

First burrs 

[img height=400]http://i.imgur.com/hwekOS1.jpg[/img

First burrs popped Saturday on the 2 Columbus... 3 weeks earlier than last year. I'm thinking double harvest

First burrs popped yesterday, way earlier than last year.
[img width=600]http://i.imgur.com/ouCbOOR.jpg[/img

First burrs popped early this week, probably July 10-11th.
Slightly later this year since I harvested shoots longer than in previous years.
No pics, AIA.

Thinking i'll try for the staggered harvest (early & late) since everything at once was a bit much.

First burrs popped last week (July 4th). Just keeping track of the annual stats.
Note to self: follow own advice above

Have access to a vacuum sealer, so will go that route this year.

First burrs already, consistent with other years. Last year was a week early.

First burrs popped a couple weeks ago, last week of June.

So they're roughly a month old and still in the burr stage. Seems i've always heard "they're ready after a month" which seems too soon obviously. I usually always harvest late Aug. anyway, so it doesn't seem that they're "slow" this year or anything.

[emerge]

Cones are just about ready Had a huge storm blow through last night, everything was soaked but no wind damage thankfully.

Gonna try making my own Cuvée St. Gilloise by wet-hopping some Oud Beersel Oude Lambiek soon.
If that doesn't work, there's always the "instant NEIPL" use for them with a case of Hamms. 

[emerge]

This IL hop farm has some interesting proprietary varieties I haven't heard of.

https://www.livewirehops.com/our-varieties

[Tip Top]

This IL hop farm has some interesting proprietary varieties I haven't heard of.

https://www.livewirehops.com/our-varieties

I hope these are good, but most Midwest grown hops aren't great.

[emerge]

This IL hop farm has some interesting proprietary varieties I haven't heard of.

https://www.livewirehops.com/our-varieties

I hope these are good, but most Midwest grown hops aren't great.

Can't speak to the quality of the product, also wondering if those are re-branded names of other well known varietals. Or they could be proprietary hybrids, who knows. I've heard similar feedback from a regional brewer that said they cost more and the quality isn't there yet.

The only experience I have is local wet hopped beers. Last year I had a couple really good ones that used hops from Landlocked and Hop Head Farms. Marz Wet Hop Hazy IPA (Mackinac from Landlocked Hops, IL)  Middle Brow Fresher Crush (Chinook from Hop Head Farms, MI)

[emerge]

Started harvesting this week. Done with the Willamette, which looked too nice to hack apart so I dried & hung them up inside. (THX> Severstad)

Started on the Centennial yesterday which are turning already, but still have a good amount of green ones. Columbus will be next up, they're generally the biggest and heartiest ones.

[emerge]

Check out this big boy



4 inches

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Long read about an English hop farmer:

https://www.pelliclemag.com/home/2021/9/24/back-to-the-garden-english-hops-growers

[smellysell]

So tired of my hops blowing into my hot tub. Need to find some dirt of netting to keep them on the other side of the lattice next year.