Charlottesville Area Masters of Real Ale | Homebrewing | Growing Hops | Growing Your Own Hops
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Growing Your Own Hops

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Growing Your Own Hops
« on: February 11, 2008, 10:31:02 PM »
NB has their pre-order page up with a few varieties of hops.

I've had a pair of Nugget hop vines in my backyard for ~4 years.  It is fun, looks pretty cool, and you can use it to make beer after the first year.  The only downside with your own hops is that you won't know the exact alpha acids for them, but you'll be able to guess in the right ballpark.

Something to think about down the road....

I'm thinking about adding a pair of Cascade vines (the go to hop for most American brewers), but I might hold out until March to see if Freshops has something a little more unusual.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/rhizomes.html

http://www.freshops.com/rhizinfo.html
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2008, 01:07:09 PM »
I planted a Fuggle and a Cascade rhizome (plant root cutting) last year and they both came up.  However, neither one grew much and I am hoping they survived the winter and come back up this year.  Hops are supposed to be easy to grow and very tolerant, which will help me as I don't have a big green thumb.  I will try to keep you posted as the season progresses.
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2008, 07:45:24 PM »
My family, upon learning about the hops shortage, suggested I grow my own. Keep us posted on how it turns out, guys!
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2008, 08:00:25 AM »
I ordered through Northern Brewer last year and it was pretty painless.  You had to order two rhizomes, minimum, and they would ship it to you when it was ready to be planted in the ground (approximate).  The instructions were very helpful and I just followed them.  We will see if they come up again this year.  I hope so, as they will likely be my only source of cascade hops this year.
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2008, 10:50:11 AM »
If anyone is thinking about growing hops, reach out to Tom and me.

We can give you some tips.  I got a surprising amount of hops from my vines on the first year, but I understand that that is very unusual.
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2008, 11:11:29 AM »
I am definitely going to give it a go. Freshops.com is posting their order form March 20th and they don't foresee a shortage in rhizomes (unlike the flowers).

If anyone is interested in a combined order to save on shipping, let me know.
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #6 on: February 15, 2008, 09:46:05 AM »
I am probably going to do the same (pretty big of me as I have not even brewed my first batch yet).  But from what I read it may take a couple of years for the plant to mature, so I figure I better start now.
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2008, 05:06:53 PM »
I was just looking online at Northern Brewer for some upcoming brew sessions with John Baker and I was suprised to note that NB actually has Cascade hops AND they are not the most expensive either.  Get them while you can, folks.
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2008, 05:15:18 PM »
The new Brew Your Own magazine has a LOT of hop information the latest issue.

Growing hops, lots of hops charts, which ones to subsitute with during the shortage.....

It looks like a VERY good issue.  I recommend checking it out.
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2008, 08:09:19 PM »
Links in the BYO mag:

www.homebrewing.org
http://www.homebrewing.org/search.asp?keyword=rhizome&sortby=1&catid=129


www.homebrew.com
http://www.homebrewadventures.com/shopping/index.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=homebrew&Category_Code=ING-hops-Rhizomes


www.beer-wine.com
http://www.beer-wine.com/category_page.asp?categoryID=23&sectionID=1


www.thebeeressentials.com
http://www.thebeeressentials.com/beer/beer-hops-rhizomes.shtml


www.freshops.com
http://www.freshops.com/rhizinfo.html


www.midwestsupplies.com
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdBySubCat.aspx?SubCat=11179
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On Deck: 100% Brett IPA
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Primary: Tangerine Porter            
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Barrel: Imperial Porter    
Souring: Sour Brown  
Souring: Berliner Weisse  
Bottled: Aardbei - (Strawberry Lambic)
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2008, 07:42:40 AM »
I really hope that mine come back up again this year, as they did not grow too much in their first year.  I know they are supposed to come up with the spring flowers, but I have no sign of activity yet and Meghan's tulips are already poking through the ground.

Any sign of activity from yours yet, Jamey?
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Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. - Benjamin Franklin

- My blog:  http://wallacesouthbrewnews.blogspot.com/
- Homebrewer since 1997
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #11 on: February 19, 2008, 09:14:19 AM »
I haven't really looked.  They usually don't pop up until March or April.

And once they do, they go like crazy.  In late spring, they can grow 4 or 5 inches a day.
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On Deck: 100% Brett IPA
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Souring: Sour Brown  
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Bottled: Aardbei - (Strawberry Lambic)
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #12 on: February 19, 2008, 09:42:58 PM »
I can't wait to order. Does anyone have a rototiller I can borrow?
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Life's too short to drink mediocre beer.

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1. of only ordinary or moderate quality; neither good nor bad; barely adequate.
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #13 on: February 20, 2008, 07:39:45 AM »
Sorry.  I'm a borrower for my regular garden, too.
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On Deck: 100% Brett IPA
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Primary: Tangerine Porter            
Lagering: Pre-Prohibition American Pils
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Souring: Sour Brown  
Souring: Berliner Weisse  
Bottled: Aardbei - (Strawberry Lambic)
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Re: Growing Your Own Hops
« Reply #14 on: March 02, 2008, 12:51:08 PM »
According to BYO editor Chris Colby, there shouldn't be a rhizome shortage this year but we'll see. Basic Brewing Radio has some interesting podcasts with Colby and with Dave Wills, the founder of Freshops on pest control and soil amendments. I've got Cascades, Goldings, Mt. Hood, Crystal, and Challenger coming into their second year and am looking forward to a late summer "wet hop" brew...I'd love to go in on a Freshops order--their jumbo rhizomes are well worth the extra few bucks, that is if they're available.
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