2010 Hops

[Big Rob]

Quite surprized! I did absolutely nothing with my plants this winter and when I went out to the property a couple weeks ago I had some plants growing like mad looking for something to climb. This is the 2nd year so I am hoping for a good harvest. I'm gonna need some advice this next winter to help me prepare the rhizomes to share. I am growing Cascade, Chinnook, and Cententials!!

[BrewerDano]

Rob DeWitt?!  How you been?  Brew anything lately?

2nd year hops won't put out a huge amount of useable hops- but you may get enough for 2 or 3 batches outta your 3 plants.  As time comes, I'll be happy to share info on splitting rhizomes for sharing or expanding your own garden.

[Big Rob]

That would be great Dano! I really would like to share my hops with others. Things are good, I sent you an email. I was finally able to brew, I did a "kit" honey ale for a friend who didn't have time to brew all 3 that he bought and a cranapple cider. The hops are really climbing although I think I might have use a little too much fertilizer amd this weather keeps changing. Hope to get more invoved in the group. I forgot how much I love brewing and how it relaxes me! The wife is even encouraging me to keep it up and keeps telling me we will open our restuarant and microbrewery someday....what a great wife!! Oh how great it is to dream!

[BrewerDano]

Well, I did some reading; and went out and did it...

Apparently, if you cut all the hops back to the ground about nowish, you are forcing your hops to restart the growth cycle.  Causing them to do some makes the cones mature later in the year, and makes them less grassy.  So, hops mature when it's cooler, will be more "hoppy", and good brewing season will have just arrived...  Sounds like a fresh hop ale is coming in my future!