Hops

[Baldy]

Aldi are knocking out an un-named variety of hops for £5 - I *might* pick one up tomorrow or I might be sensible and get the incinerator that's reduced to £7.99 - or possibly I may buy both. Mrs Balders is not on hand to keep me in check , but a look at my bank balance may suffice.

Anyhow - hops.
I've got a vine growing over one side of my 'pergoda' and thought hops might work grown from the other side. (In addition I have a fondness for beer). So - any advice on a good hop to get and a recommendation for suppliers - with a possible thought about using it for flavouring homebrews?

TIA

[veggiechicken]

Here's one I prepared earlier http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ops_70202.html There are other hop growers on here!

I still have my hops but have given up on training them. They have vicious leaves
Our local hop syndicate is flourishing - even supplying some of the pubs here. I've not tasted it though - too lazy to go into town!
Go for it Baldy - you can always stuff them in your pillow and have sweet dreams

[Nubber]

hey Baldy, any chance you have a link to the aldi website with these offers on please ? I don't have an aldi locally and don't have my own transport, but really want some hops, so I'd like to look it up a bit before I jump on a few buses just to get to an aldi store

[Baldy]

Hi Nubber

A very quick look on the website didn't show any hits for hops - might not be national then I guess.

Balders

[Jay-ell]

Thought they grew to 40 feet -how big is that pegoda?

Hops shoots are a "poor mans asparagus" being a hungry gap veg. The plants throw out a lot more shoots than you need for the flowers so you can harvest the shoots then grow for the flowers.

Are the plants male of female? Isn't it the female flowers used?

[Baldy]

1 in 200 are allowed to be male in the UK but in general you're correct 40ft for non dwarf and in some parts of Europe male plants are illegal. Guess what I've been reading up on over a morning cuppa...

[Jay-ell]

So if they've sold 199 other plants...

Did the lable say these are full sized hops or a dwarf hop? I fancied buying Prima Donna or Golden Tassles which are short at "only" 8 - 10 foot or so but never did.

Do you brew your own from hops already?

[Baldy]

... as per usual with Aldi plants not much in the way of info I'm afraid - I might just pick one up tonight for the sake of it... though a dwarf variety would be nice

Haven't used own grown hops in a brew yet.

[Baldy]

Bought one - bog-us standardi 'Humulus lupulus' so 8 metres growth in old money
Tidy little plant at the moment though.



It now got to survive in my car till I get home Friday...

[Jay-ell]

You're a very naughty boy. Incinerators at half price - popped into my local one and they were still full price so I got compost instead.

No hops outside amongst the plants. They had the "Grow Your Own Beer" and "Grow your own wine" indoors. And of course it's illegal to water beer or wine - so they hadn't.

[Baldy]

Yeah - I had to pick fairly carefully - about a third looked dried out...

[Jimmy]

In a home brew magazine many years ago there was an article by a chap call Charles Dela Something. Can't remember the exact name but is was double barrel. Anyone know off hand?

Anyway he offered a root of a Sazz plant ( I think ) if you send him a stamped addressed envelope.
This must be 30 years ago.

I planted it against a south facing wall. It likes the hot dry conditions at the base of the wall. Plus frost protection in winter.

It loved it and now covers the wall.

Note hops are quite evil.
1) They pop up everywhere a bit like mares tail.
2) The tendrils are like a "rat tailed file", if one drags across you arm or leg you get a big red wield.
Did make beer once with the flowers.
Jimmy

[Jay-ell]

The variety is Northern Brewer

Pedigree: Seedling selection WEB 135, raised in 1934 from Canterbury Golding, crossed with a male seedling from Brewer's Gold. Canterbury Golding is an old English variety identical to East Kent Golding.

[Baldy]

How'dya find out - I spent a bit of time on t'internet but clearly my google-foo was lacking...

[Baldy]

"Brewed a decoction Porter using Northern Brewer Hop Pellets in initial boil and Aroma, best beer I've ever made. Hops gave the beer a refreshing, crisp not too hoppy flavor, which is what I like in my beer"

yeah baby!!!