When we started investigating the propagation of Virginia hops and its reintroduction in the Virginia agriculture, the late Andy Hankins of Virginia State University had a huge impact on us. His time and guidance regarding everything from growing to market formation was essential to spring board us to where we are today. After years of trialing, we have gotten to the point where its is time that growers begin to collaborate with brewers in order to form a true market to benefit one another.
Virginia has experienced tremendous growth within the Brewing Industry and a lot of things have really developed quickly since the passage of legislation in Richmond leading to the formation of the "farm brewery" model. This model now permits our breweries to offer pints on premise as well as growlers to go for fans modeled much like our Virginia wineries. It will drive more traffic by consumers to breweries in order to attend events or simply enjoy the Tasting Room on site.
One of the basic discussions we had with Andy Hankins back in 2010 was concerning the creation of unique "markets" for the end product. These products would have to be in the form that meets demand. These forms being "wet" hops, dried hops, pellet hops or even hop extracts. For the most part, the last two years there has been a little revolution in the growing community as a few hop yards have popped offering two very distinct models; the first model is hop yards planted that grow specifically though not always exclusively for a Virginia brewery and the second are smaller scale yards looking to grow for various breweries throughout not only Virginia, but also in North Carolina and Maryland. The first model is demonstrated by the likes of production breweries like Blue Mountain and Blue Mountain's Barrel House Hop Yards under the watch of Stan Driver, Chairman of the Old Dominion Hop Cooperative. Others include Country Road Hops Farm for Rusty Beaver in Carolina County and the incredible operation in Goochland County operated by Sean-Thomas Pumphrey in Lickinghole Creek Farm Brewery which opened a few months ago to raving reviews. Its focus on community events and engagement has been a firecracker for the County and is bringing more people from Richmond to Goochland to experience great beers at the brewery tasting room as well as Midnight Brewery in Rockville. The second model is supported by smaller hop yards that are growing hops either specifically for home brewers or for breweries at large.
Currently, the form of hop being provided the last two years has been predominately "wet" hops or Harvest Hops. These hops are picked and harvested almost exclusively by hand though currently there is one Bine Implement Harvester in Virginia that this last season was shared by a few of the hop yards. There is currently a feasibility proposition for the creation of a mobile, hop harvester under development specifically for small farm operations working with the USDA.
Information data is critical to provide data of support for grant funding and research endeavors where it must be demonstrated that there is both a need and a market. The last two years we have spent much of our time interacting with breweries in order to create the market for Virginia hops. The increase in the number of breweries and the increase in volume of Virginia craft sales demonstrates that our brewers are meeting the expectations of quality with the Virginia consumer. We now must meet those same quality expectations the brewers have for the ingredients in which they use to create their releases.
The Virginia Hops Initiative's sole purpose is to engage both growers and brewers alike. To collaborate and engage one another in order to support one another. The benefits of local hops are obvious. Local hops will add to our agri-economy here in Virginia, will help a brewery reduce its carbon footprint and unite the agricultural community with the brewing community. It will also demonstrated through its purchases its commitment as a Virginia business to its own community. Buying Local is a huge trend now and more and more consumers want to know where a product comes from and where the ingredients used in the product come from.
Two Surveys have been created to gather data in which both growers and brewers can align themselves with. The questions lend themselves to providing information that each will be able to use creatively in their operations.
The Virginia Hop Growers Survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8B3X6LF
The Virginia Brewers Survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/29NYKGP
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