18 replies to this topic

[jayb151]

So, I brewed an IPA with my homegrown hops yesterday. I used over a lbs in a 5 gallon batch.

 

It was the first time that I actually saw hop oil settling on top of the beer in the fermenter. I'm so looking forward to this being done!

 

Check the pics!

https://imgur.com/a/fkthn

[MakeMeHoppy]

Nothing like home grown hops...  enjoy

[SchwanzBrewer]

Fantastic! I'm jealous.

[Poptop]

That looks so nice. Might have missed it, but what kind of hops?

[codemonkey]

Fantastic! I'm jealous.

This. I only tried growing hops once, and it was a miserable failure.

[positiveContact]

This. I only tried growing hops once, and it was a miserable failure.

 

what kind were you growing?  cascades are super easy to grow.

[HVB]

I need to brew with mine soon.  There were a few that were brown but the rest look nice. 5g bucket of cascade and chinook.

 

httpss://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FFMyNDJq7Lg/VBhBJKrK_uI/AAAAAAAAFR4/v5upiczoZ8Q/w1099-h824-no/hops.jpg

[positiveContact]

i'm drying mine out right now.  i think i may have waited a little too long to harvest.  there are also an insane number of those tiny green mite things on the garage floor where I'm drying the hops.  is that a problem?

[HVB]

i'm drying mine out right now.  i think i may have waited a little too long to harvest.  there are also an insane number of those tiny green mite things on the garage floor where I'm drying the hops.  is that a problem?

I have no idea if they are an issue.  We had them one year and after that we started to spray the plants with safer soap each week.  I think I had 2 mites in the bucket this year.

[positiveContact]

I have no idea if they are an issue.  We had them one year and after that we started to spray the plants with safer soap each week.  I think I had 2 mites in the bucket this year.

 

some of my hops also had black dots inside the cone (usually near the top).  any that I noticed like this I tossed.  I'm not sure if again it's just b/c I harvested a little late or if there is something else going on.  I'm actually planning to expand my hop growing setup this fall but they may mainly be for decoration if I can't figure out the right time to harvest and reasonably dry them out.  I hate to risk large batches of beer.

[SchwanzBrewer]

Hell I grew Cascade this year here in FL. Also grew teamaker, but I haven't got enough hops to make a beer. Next year I should be able to get some decent hops.

[codemonkey]

what kind were you growing?  cascades are super easy to grow.

Cascades and magnum. I didn't really have a good setup, but the vines got to the top of my lines but then just withered and died. Too much sun, maybe?

[positiveContact]

Cascades and magnum. I didn't really have a good setup, but the vines got to the top of my lines but then just withered and died. Too much sun, maybe?

 

they can't really get too much sun as far as I know.  you just have to water sufficiently

[HVB]

Cascades and magnum. I didn't really have a good setup, but the vines got to the top of my lines but then just withered and died. Too much sun, maybe?

I have read they need 16 hours of sun a day.  Ours are located in the middle of our yard and get sun all day so I am not sure it was too much sun.  Maybe not enough liquid?  I have seen our hops grow about 6" a day.

Edited by drez77, 16 September 2014 - 08:12 AM.

[denny]

Hops grow best between the 45-48th parallels.  They grow until equinox and then start flowering, so the length of the day really makes a difference.  Between the 45-48th parallels is where the length is perfect.  Not to say you can't grow them elsewhere.  I'm seriously considering tearing mine out.  I get so much that it's a real PITA to process them.  Not to mention that for about 8 bucks I can buy all the Cascade I'll use in a year.

[codemonkey]

they can't really get too much sun as far as I know.  you just have to water sufficiently

 

I have read they need 16 hours of sun a day.  Ours are located in the middle of our yard and get sun all day so I am not sure it was too much sun.  Maybe not enough liquid?  I have seen our hops grow about 6" a day.

Ah well then I guess it was too little water. It was a half-assed effort, so I wasn't surprised with the results. I'm far too lazy to be trying to grow anything, though every now and then I get the bug.

[positiveContact]

Hops grow best between the 45-48th parallels.  They grow until equinox and then start flowering, so the length of the day really makes a difference.  Between the 45-48th parallels is where the length is perfect.  Not to say you can't grow them elsewhere.  I'm seriously considering tearing mine out.  I get so much that it's a real PITA to process them.  Not to mention that for about 8 bucks I can buy all the Cascade I'll use in a year.

 

I kind of like the way the plants look actually.  I hear you on the actual use of the hops though.

[HVB]

.  Not to mention that for about 8 bucks I can buy all the Cascade I'll use in a year.

That is a bad problem to have!

[jayb151]

That looks so nice. Might have missed it, but what kind of hops?

It's a mix of cascade and Chinook. Smells amazing!