If you’re a homebrewer or just a beer enthusiast, growing your own hops can take your craft beer game to the next level. Not only do you get to control the quality and flavor of one of beer’s key ingredients, but it’s also a rewarding gardening project. Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide on how to grow hops for beer, written in an easy, friendly tone to help you get started in your backyard or garden.
What Are Hops and Why Grow Them?
Hops are the flowers (or cones) of the hop plant, Humulus lupulus. They add bitterness, aroma, and flavor to beer, balancing the sweetness of malt and contributing to the beer’s stability and shelf life. Growing your own hops means fresher, more flavorful beer with the satisfaction of knowing you grew the key ingredient yourself.
Choosing the Right Hop Varieties
There are over 120 hop varieties, each with unique flavors and brewing uses. When selecting hops to grow, consider:
– Your brewing style: For example, if you love IPAs, focus on aroma and bittering hops like Cascade, Chinook, or Centennial.
– Climate and location: Some varieties perform better in certain climates.
– Purpose: Grow a mix of bittering hops (like Magnum or Columbus), dual-purpose hops (like Chinook or Centennial), and noble hops (like Saaz or Hallertauer) to cover most beer styles.
Preparing to Plant Your Hops
Soil and Location
Hops thrive in well-draining, loamy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, ideally slightly acidic around 6.7 to 6.9. Good drainage is crucial-adding sand can help if your soil is heavy. Choose a spot with full sun, aiming for 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily, and plenty of vertical space since hops grow upward rapidly.
Space and Support
– Plant rhizomes 3 feet apart if growing the same variety, or 5 feet apart for different varieties to avoid crowding and crossbreeding.
– Provide a strong vertical support system like an 8 to 12-foot trellis, poles, or strings for the bines (vines) to climb.
Planting Your Hops
Getting Rhizomes
Start with hop rhizomes, which are root cuttings available from online suppliers or homebrew shops. If not planting immediately, keep them wrapped in a damp paper towel in the fridge to preserve freshness.
How to Plant
– Dig a hole about 4 inches deep.
– Place the rhizome horizontally with buds or growing tips facing up.
– Cover lightly with soil or mulch to conserve moisture.
– Water well after planting.
Caring for Your Hop Plants
Watering
Hops need consistent moisture, especially in the first year. Water frequently but avoid waterlogging. Once established, they develop deep roots and require less frequent watering.
Feeding
Feed your hops monthly with an organic fertilizer to promote strong growth. High nitrogen fertilizers work well during the growing season to support vigorous vine development.
Training the Bines
As the hop bines grow, select the strongest 2 to 3 per plant and wrap them counter-clockwise around your support. This training encourages healthy growth and maximizes yield. Continue wrapping the bines as they grow upward.
Pruning
Trim the weaker bines at the base to focus energy on the strongest vines. After about two months, remove lower leaves to reduce disease risk from soil splash.
Harvesting Your Hops
Hops are usually ready to harvest from late August to early September, depending on your climate. The cones should feel dry, papery, and slightly sticky with a strong hop aroma.
– For first-year plants, hand-picking cones is recommended.
– For mature plants, you can cut down the entire bine and then pick the cones.
Drying and Storing Hops
Fresh hops contain about 80% water, so if you want to store them for later use, drying is essential.
– Dry hops in a well-ventilated, dark, and warm area.
– Avoid excessive heat or light to preserve aroma and bitterness.
– Properly dried hops become brittle and papery, with about 10% moisture content, similar to commercial hops.
You can also use fresh (wet) hops immediately for wet-hopped beers, but remember you’ll need 4 to 6 times the amount compared to dried hops.
Tips for Success
– Be patient: hops often take 2 to 3 years to reach full production.
– Mulch in fall to protect roots during winter.
– Keep an eye out for pests and diseases, though hops are generally hardy.
– Experiment with different varieties to find your favorites for brewing.
Growing your own hops is a fun and rewarding way to deepen your connection to brewing. With the right care and patience, you’ll soon be harvesting your own fresh hops to craft unique and delicious beers.
Enjoy the journey-and get hoppy!
Growing hops is simple with the right soil, sun, and care. Plant rhizomes in spring, train the bines up a trellis, water and feed regularly, then harvest cones in late summer for your very own homegrown beer ingredient.