Poll: Favorite Homegrown Hop Varietal?

Like all our prior poll posts, this post takes a moment to memorialize the results we recieved on the most recent blog poll.  The readers' responses to the questions "Growing your own hops: what's your favorite varietal?" are presented below.

Total Votes: 14

I  knew when I put this poll up that it was going to be a bit hit-or-miss with participation.   The question is only applicable to those homebrewers (or brewers) who specifically have the land and interest in planting their own hops.  The interest level has spiked up in a few years, but the number of homebrewers that put rhizomes in the ground is a small fraction of the population.

Initially, the question was originally posted as a way to get suggestions about what type of hops I should plant.  A few years back, I had purchased some rhizomes and planted them in pots at my old house, which did particularly well in their first season.  However, the move to our new house and the lack of attention I was able to give them the first summer caused the plants to die off. But with the impending thaw coming (it is coming, right?), I got interested again in trying it again.  However, I ended up jumping the gun and purchased rhizomes (Sterling and Centenniel) before the poll could give me any suggestions on way or another.  Oh well - if I had waited, I would have been the proud owner of Centenniel and Willamette hops, but Sterling will just have to do.

Let us know if you've got hops in the ground at your home, and if so, what varieties?  I'm sure I'll write a bit more about the new rhizomes and their progress in the future, but I'm curious to hear what everyone else has.  And if you are reading this, our next blog poll is up and awaiting your participation.


Slainte!

-JW


"When the pilgrims, seeking religious freedom, landed at Plymouth rock, the first permanent building put up was the brewery."
-Jim West

Growing Your Own Brewing Ingredients

With those of us in the North East shrugging off what we hope to be the last of winter’s icy grasp, at this time of year, thoughts almost immediately turn to getting outdoors.  At our house, this typically includes the annual planning sessions for what vegetables or herbs to plant in the garden.  What do we want to attempt to grow that might, with a little luck, wind up on the kitchen table?

This year, I began wondering what I could grow that I might be able to feature in a future homebrewed beer.  I think I have this impulse every year, but the thought had enough momentum in my mind that I'll likely act on it.  Hops are the obvious answer.  I’m sure if you polled a collection of homebrewers, the majority of them have or at least have tried growing their own hop cones.  I’m certainly guilty after planting a Sterling and Centennial plant last season.  But for this year, I wanted to try looking for something different.

After a little searching, I decided to pick up a copy of John Peragine’s “The Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Hops, Barley, and Brewing Herbs”  It seemed to cover exactly what I was looking for.  Plus, I’ve heard good things about the book, and at almost 300 pages, its packed with a lot of information.  So what the hell, right?

I’ll report back after the book arrives and I get the chance to thumb through it for ideas.  In the meantime, if anyone has the book or at least flipped through it, I would love to hear your thoughts.  Alternatively, if there are other books or references any readers might be able to point me to on growing beer ingredients (beyond just hops), I would greatly appreciate it.

Slainte!

-JW

"I drink with impunity ... or anyone else who invites me."

-W. C. Fields