Hops are a specialty crop essential to beer brewing that are well suited to grow in our local climate. Many breweries in North America are trying to establish commercial hops production for a number of fresh-hops beers, or to establish particular varieties of hops for local and farm-based breweries. Hops require a unique trellis system and specific drying conditions to be grown successfully.
The Pacific Northwest has a long, sunshiny summer without significant heat, and with lots of regular rainfall and a rich volcanic soil. While the climate and environment in the Pacific Northwest is perfect for hops, many other areas in North America can begin hop cultivation.
In the Pacific Northwest, most hop trellis’ are designed to face the south.
Hops are the flower of the Humulus Lupulus plant, and are used either fresh or dried. The resins in the flower balance the sweet, bland flavors of grains when brewing beer, and also act as a preservative. Different varieties of hops produce a different range of balancing and bitter flavors to beer.
Hops grow as flowers on a very large and heavy vine and are picked yearly; the vines can be attached to upright supports with agricultural twines or specialty trellis systems. The trellis systems and various agricultural cloths and twines need to be sturdy enough for multiple year supports, as setting up the initial system can be a significant investment in infrastructure. The trellis or twine systems need to support a heavy vine that is over 20 feet high at maturity.
The initial vineyard is started using rhizomes and maintained for years. When the flowers begin to ripen, they turn papery and dry. The vines are lowered to the ground and laid on agricultural cloth and the flowers picked. For fresh-hops beers, the hops are used in brewing within 24 hours of being picked. More traditional dried hops are dehydrated like other agricultural products. The long vines are left on the plants until the late autumn, when the plants are pruned for the next year.
Hops are a specialty agricultural crop treated like the finest grapes or coffee plants, with care and hands-on attention. The quality of the product, the resins in the hop flowers, is directly related to growing, harvesting, and drying conditions. For most specialty growers, both the initial site preparation and the trellis system is the infrastructure that will have the most impact on the success of the venture.
The Pacific Northwest has the climate and weather that is very beneficial for commercial hops production. It’s one of the reasons you’ll find many local brews here. Hop farmers in the region have developed specialty trellis systems and methods of growing for optimum quality; and technological advances are supporting more and more innovation in the industry.
The Pacific Northwest is not an isolated area of opportunity for hops and beer brewing. Other areas of the country are also well suited to growing hops and competition for that breakthrough brew is steep. Keep an eye out for our 2020 microbrews and ask our master brewer about our local hops.