[COHO] Harvesting Hops - question for you

[Ben Groeneveld]

Hi Bill,

While in Idaho Falls I used to grow Oregon Nugget hops, which easily 
grows 20 feet each year.  I used them as a solar shield over my deck; in 
the winter I cut the vines away entirely for solar gain to my home.  
Since I had so much I tried various things. What seemed to work best for 
me was to experiment the first years making batches with fresh hops.  
Then, once I established the correct amounts I would take the largest 
and ripest hops and freeze them fresh, without drying, in exact 
quantities ready for use, in simple ziplock bags. Depending on the style 
I could go from 6-9 oz fresh boiling hops, and twice that for fresh 
finishing hops.  Those were some of the more flavorful and fruity ales 
I've done.  Starting out with some darker and bitter recipes is what I 
did to mask my initial trials.  Hope that helps and - good luck!

Ben.


Huntkng at aol.com wrote:
> My friend has a 20'x10' wall covered with hops.  The leaves are just 
> starting to die out and the flowers are still green with some of them 
> turning yellow on the tips.  We can have them all, I think that there 
> are 20 - 40+ ounces or more there.  I don't know what type they are. 
>  
> I don't know anything about harvesting hops.  Do I pick a few ounces 
> here and there as the get mature or take them all at once?  When are 
> they ripe for the picking??  Some smell hoppy some don't.  Best way to 
> dry them?  The flowers are about an inch long and 3/4" wide at the 
> middle.  Do I vacuum pack them and then freeze em'. 
>  
> Bill
>  
> */William (Bill) Herrick/**/
> PO Box 7499
> Bend, OR 97708
> Wk: (541) 318-8862
> Fax: (541) 318-0083
> e-mail: huntkng at aol.com/*
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> COHO www.cohomebrewers.org
> COHO at lists.bendtel.net
> http://lists.bendtel.net/mailman/listinfo/coho
>   

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.bendtel.net/pipermail/coho/attachments/20060821/568603ec/attachment.html