Local! Its not only about Hops....

While there have been many reports coming out of places like New York, North Carolina and Virginia regarding hop farming and  meeting the demands of the Craft Beer industry, hops are certainly not the only commodity of sorts being explored by regional brewers.

Local sourcing is the preferred method for many young, new brewers and breweries. This sourcing for ingredients is certainly no longer simply tied to hops. Some of the elements that truly make a beer local is not merely where it is produced but what the brewers use to produce it. "Local" is to be a term associated with distance or within a certain number of miles on map addressing where the end product was produced or manufactured, but now in 2014 it also is taking on a greater meaning with regard to the location of where the actual ingredients were grown.

Many Craft beer lovers are moving more towards this as well in terms of their buying patterns. They want to know where the ingredients come from, what local farms are supporting the breweries and vice versa. Hops seemed like the natural option for brewers wanting to move more "local" but after the last few years with success of such brewing programs like Hardywood Park Craft Brewery's Reserve Series many other local breweries are following suit with other ingredients.

Hardywood has been successful with its incorporation of local farming products like Ginger (Hardywood Gingerbread Stout), pumpkin (Hardywood Farmhouse Pumpkin) Blackberries and Strawberries (Hardywood Blackberry and Hardywood Strawberry) and even as far as working with local coffee retailers like Black Hand Coffee (Hardywood Mocha Belgique) and Lamplighter (Hardywood Sidamo). This year on Saturday Feb. 1st, Hardywood will release a Bourbon barrel variant of the Hardywood Sidamo! Hardywood also does its RVA/IPA release annually by using 100% local Virginia Hops. Homegrown Hopyards as been an advocate for this release as it has become quite the community project with local growers contributing hops grown within the community to the project for brewing. In years past Homegrown Hopyards  in Richmond, Va has contributed significant numbers of varieties and pounds to the offering. In 2014, B&B Hops program will also be a large supporter of Hardywood !

While Hops may take a few years to propagate successfully enough to establish support for a brewing program, other local forward thinking entrepreneurs are addressing other needs by the regional brewers. SouthYeast Labs out of South Carolina is working towards creating a large yeast strain bank for breweries. Just as the "terroir" impacts Virginia hops, it to creates local yeast that can be captured and cultured on behalf of breweries so that they can incorporate it into their brewing regimen.

David Thornton and Even Skjervold are operating SouthYeast Labs in Greenville, SC within Brewery85. SouthYeast Labs is about locally captured, domesticated wild yeast strains often times from local fruit itself. Nothing can get more local than that and are active in enlisting breweries but have almost a dozen or so working with the yeast strains as trials.

To learn more about SouthYeast Labs and even contribute to their future see here:
http://clemsonideas.com/campaigns/southyeast-labs/

The four main ingredients of Beer are of course; Hops, Yeasts, Malts and Water

Demands for hops are being met by various local growers though mostly small operations scattered throughout the region. Yeasts are being addressed by such start-ups as SouthYeast Labs and the malt is being addressed by such companies as Riverbend Malt House.

Riverbend Malt House located in Asheville, NC  is dedicated to bringing locally farmed, artisan malts into the hands of brewers. Asheville is like the Southern Mecca of the Southern Beer Economy. With dozens of breweries and more on the way in Western North Carolina, there is a huge opportunity to get brewers into using locally sourced barley for instance. Brett Manning and Brian Simpson are offering a sustainable approach that not only will benefit brewers with a far higher level of local quality malt but also provide farmers in North Carolina with a more stable market.

Local Hops, Local Yeast and Local Malts will be the backbone of the Southern Beer Economy!

Cascade: Is the Honeymoon Over?

For about ten years now there has been a fascination in the growing circles for Cascade. Cascade can certainly be characterized as "America's Hop". It was bred from Fuggle and a Russian variety known as Serebrianker. Cascade since 1972 has been the predominant aroma hop brewed with in the United States. Its citrus and almost grapefruit tones have been the gem of many brewers, but given the number of years that Cascade has been in the mix the hop has lost a bit of its luster with new, younger brewers. Fact is, Cascade just is not "sexy" any longer.

This is not to say that Cascade is not still in high demand. It is. So much in fact that the majority of commercial growers in the United States plant and sell Cascade. An important component that is impacting Cascade right now is that the country is experiencing incredible growth right now with new breweries. Many of these will not be large enough or capitalized enough to enter into long term "contracts" for hops like Cascade. New brewers are faced with working with hops that are readily available or those they can purchase via "spot" pricing directly from suppliers. This has open the door and increased the demand for hops other than Cascade for sure, but also may explain the fact that the majority of the growers regionally are planting Cascade which very will may fill the void for some breweries.

When we started growing there were three hop farms (known) in Virginia. The largest being that of Taylor Smack's at Blue Mountain Brewery where its Cascade goes into its popular Full Nelson Pale Ale release. As more growers have entered the scene, the only barometer was that set by the early growers on which varieties can or will grow here in Virginia. If you examine the recently published map by Old Dominion Hops Cooperative you will find that the majority of growers are working solely with Cascade.

A big factor in the Cascade fascination is the fact that the variety has very successful in growing regionally throughout Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland. This tends to be less risky of a planting proposition for new growers. Obviously, there is considerable expenses on growing hops and growers want to plant what they are convinced will be successful.

That being said however, our recent surveys sent out to regional breweries demonstrates that Cascade is no longer the most desirable hop to be sourced locally. In fact, those brewers that can procure Cascade via contracts would actually prefer to get other hops grown in the region to use in special wet or harvest ales as well in both dried leaf and pellet form. This means that there is a "market" that is not being met by growers that are solely growing Cascade in 2014.

The Cascade market will also always have considerable pressure commercially from large scale producers and though demand will always be there for Cascade, it appears as though many breweries are looking for other varieties locally.

The hop honeymoon with the younger brewers may be over as many of these brewers established themselves home brewing with varieties from all over the world and have been exposed to other hops that they wish to work with now that they have established formal brewing operations.

Winter Planning: Game Planning for the Unknown

One of the best things that any grower can do during the Winter is to create a game plan or Action Plan for addressing things that may come up during the growing season. For example, taking a lesson from Virginia vineyards it may simply only be a matter of time before Hop yards get more instances of the mildews and mites that impact other products throughout the State.

We have been extremely lucky in that our field practices have mitigated thus far any exposure of powdery mildew or downy mildew. Other growers have not been so lucky. One key element is starting with your actual Hop yard design.

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND!

If you want to maximize yield it is important to research your variety and apply some of the lessons learned by others but more importantly adapt those lessons to your own location. Every farm and every grower is different. Every Hop is different as well though some have striking similarities that may be leveraged.

Some things to consider:

1. Row Spacing- you will find that many yards use 10 to 14 feet spaced between rows. The reason for this has to do only with equipment considerations but also to promote adequate air flow as well as warmth exposure from the sun to eliminate moisture within the rows that could lead to mildew at the base of plants---especially after rains.

2. Hill Spacing- a "hill" is actually where you will find the plant material and though there is debate regarding how many plants per hill the question here regard the distance of spacing between hills. This is a critical concern. If you bunch space too tight, you can be almost be guaranteed of less air flow below the canopy (top line growth). Varieties like Cascade and Centennial should be planted about 36 inches apart along with a lot of European hops like Fuggle, Goldings, Hallertau and Perle. The reason is these hops typically have smaller/less horizontal growth- sideway growth along the row. Other varieties like Willamette, Chinook, CTZ-Columbus  and Galena have more horizontal growth and side arms so it is preferable to space at least 40 to 42 inches apart.

3.Pole Spacing and Height: there are certainly ways around the max height you will find in commercial yards which top out at about 20 feet. There are also "Short Trellis" systems using 12 foot poles or less for some varieties as well that are effective, however many feel that the yield is less on short systems and opt for the tall trellis system. If you are a "commercial" grower that may make perfect sense, but to be honest if you are growing less than a half acre of hops it may be easier to install and manage effectively a short system for small scale grower with reduced costs. Spacing of poles comes into play with regard to your load weight from all the vegetation. The average load weight per plant in places like OR or WA may be upwards of 30 pounds at maturity. That means a lot of vegetation. There is a direct relationship between the spacing of the hills (above) and the Poles that support the Trellis in terms of creating a sort of micro climate at the base of the plants that assist with combatting moisture and thus mildews.

These can be modified for each individual grower. It is always about preference but there is certainly not one size fits all. The reason why there seems to be resistance against new varieties being grown in the Mid-Atlantic other than Cascade is that grower have applied the wrong growing regimen and spacing to the others. Not all Hops grow in the same manner; soil and ph can be very different.

That being said, winter also offers an opportunity to formulate a chemical plan and strategy that may be employed in case there is exposure to mildew and mites.

A few considerations are as follows:

One consideration for mites is:

 Acramite® Miticide is a selective miticide for the control of two-spotted mites, european red mites and bryobia mites on pome and stone fruit.

Key benefits of Acramite:

•Provides quick knockdown through contact activity, and exemplary residual control


•The unique chemistry, mode of action and selective nature ensures that Acramite is extremely gentle on beneficials and predaceous mites


•Ideal for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and resistance management programs

For Mildew: (from brand site)

Aliette® brand fungicide delivers true, two-way systemic protection against Phytophthora, downy mildew and other diseases. With multiple modes of action, Aliette attacks pathogens at multiple growth stages for better overall disease control.... And its unique double action not only attacks and controls fungi on contact, but also stimulates the plant's own defense mechanisms.

•Multiple modes of action to control devastating vegetable diseases including downy mildew
•Attacks pathogens at multiple growth stages, for better overall disease control
•The systemic activity allows it to travel upwards and downwards throughout the plant, creating a complete barrier of protection while preventing wash-off
•Inhibits spore production, thereby preventing transmission of disease to neighboring plants
•Systemic fungicide that protects quality and yields for a better return on investment

 

The following products have been used by growers and in particular the North Carolina Research yards and were graciously provided by Kelly Gaskill:

 

Riodomil Gold

Aliette

Tanos (Dupont)

Kocide (Dupont)

Revus

Safetyside

Acramite

Sevin

 

Some others that can be used are:

Quintec- a downy preventative- but not effective if already present

Sonata- organic regimen

Serenade- organic regimen

Fonganil Gold

Ortiva

 

Because the re-introduction of hops is relatively new to a lot of areas within the region, Cooperatives may not have information pertaining directly to Hops, but a lot of times those that pertain to leafy crop plants may be a starting point.

 

The above product lists should be a good start to explore what is available in your area to procure. It is important to remember to read as much as possible on these products before deciding not only which ones to use BUT when to use them and how much.

 

Creating an Action Plan is an effective tool that you have at your disposal and can consult should the situation arise that requires you to address mildew or mites.

 

 

 

Trellis: Hop Yard Cables

One of the biggest factors and expenses associated with your hop yard build or expansion will not only be your poles, which can run anywhere these days from$35 to $100 depending upon which variety chosen and delivery expenses, but will also be the cables that you will use for your trellis.

Again, like so many things there is some debate centered around the right cable to use. Galvanized Aircraft Cable appears to be the most popular or universally accepted by commercial growers, but depending upon your build requirements you can opt for other kinds of cable. If you simply are trellising one row of hops with a half dozen poles it is quite different than say a build or trellis system of 30 rows.

The biggest thing to consider is the load weight on your cable. The average mature hop plant will load at about 30-40 lbs. You would have to take this number and multiply it by the number of plants you plan to have in the row to get a realistic load weight for the row. Also, factor in some extra weight for high winds, rain storms and other weather systems that may impact the stability or shift the weight of the trellis system when choosing your cable.

Here is a nice chart related to the size, load weight and diameter options for aircraft cable:

It is highly recommended by experienced trellis designers not to go less than 3/16 in diameter for your cable. It often times is only a few cents more for thicker diameter cable and that may just be the thing that can prevent any trellis disaster late in the season when the load weight is its most.

Hop Poles: Up in the Air

Whenever there is a discussion regarding anything related to Trellis Systems or Hop Yards in general, much of what is considered to be the "best" or "required" always seems to be tied to commercial growers. This is in large part due to the fact that commercial growers are really the largest percentage of those employing trellis systems for hops, but the small scale farmer has a lot of options to them. It quite different to build a system for say a quarter acre yard that may only have two hundred or so plants than say a fifty acre commercial hop farm. And these systems do not all have to be the same. Success for a small scale grower may simply just be enough yield for home brewing. This does not require 20 foot poles in the ground. Short Trellis systems can be employed with netting to grow hops as well and with reduced costs. Some have used eight to twelve feet poles for these systems and can work just fine. Obviously, the needs for commercial growers are very different and the need to maximize yield is the reason most have systems twenty feet or so high.

In keeping with whole farm practices, sustainable principles and making sure if your preference is be as natural or organic as possible it is best to use trees that you have on the property if possible. It is important to note that your goals must be fully though out before you proceed with ordering poles if you are not using trees natural to the property. If you are planning to approach your growing from an "organic" regimen and wish later to seek USDA designations than you MUST NOT use treated woods, poles, etc from say your local lumber yard or retailer. Many have done this and later regretted the investment when they learned that these kinds of poles or telephone style poles will not meet the grade when it comes to certifications.

There are certainly sources in virtually every State one can locate to source natural trees for poles. Black Locust poles, while highly regarded as the best also come with a steeper price tag than some of the other varieties. Natural to many of the yards we work with ar Poplar, Cedar,Pine and Ash. The knock on some of these is that they may not last as long as others, but one must also factor in dramatically reduced costs for using trees on the property for the trellis. Poles can run growers upwards of $90 if trellising 20 feet high with 4 feet under ground anchoring (24 feet solid poles). Many small scale growers have as many as 18 poles - 3 rows of 6 poles spaced anywhere from 30 to 40 feet apart. The cost of this would top 1,600 for the poles ,especially if sourcing the highly sought after varieties which may or may not include delivery charges.

Savings: Try and locate tree suitable in terms of diameter and height on the property. If none available, source as locally as possible and work with your Forestry Department to locate farms willing to provide poles. Even if you have to cut the poles and have them delivered it can be cheaper than paying shipping and delivery charges from commercial tree providers.

You may also be able to contact other growers or a cooperative to locate sourcing for those willing to provide new growers with poles as well.

Its all about Our Roots! "FREE UP THE HOPS" Program!

You may think based on the title of this post it would be about Hop root stock or rhizomes, but in truth many Hop growers "roots" go back to home brewing. Getting together with friends and brewing up recipes together is probably the only alternative to watching College Football or Pro Football that many of us guys have to get together outside of maybe hunting.

Home brewing has caught fire lately. Its growth can be died directly to the rise of Craft Beer nationally. New home brew supply stores have been popping up, even though out the Southeast where years ago many claimed that the South would not embrace craft breweries. The though was the popular "Nascar" demographic throughout the South would not appreciate craft beer as much as other parts of the country. Well, the South is proving them all wrong.

If you have been home brewing than you know all about the trips to the supply store concerning hops and malts. A few of us about four years ago thought it would be great if we could eliminate the rising costs of Hops by planting them so we could share with our friends and other home brewers. What started out as a few dozen pots will top almost three thousand plants in 2014.

What we have discovered is a lot of our home brew friends do not have the capacity to grow hops in the areas of the City in which they live. Either they lack the space or more importantly lack the sunlight required due to the amount of trees in and around their homes. After a few years of talking about this dilemma and witnessing the rising costs of hops either online or at the supply store, we have decided to create a program that would FREE UP THE HOPS!!

What is the FREE UP THE HOPS program?

Home brewers from our local area will be provided a 250 foot row in the Hop yard where they can come out and plant the hops that they would like to work with and experiment with in their brewing. They can plant a variety of Hops and periodically check in with us and see how the Hops are progressing throughout the season. Once ready to harvest, we will let the home brewers know when the Hops will be ready for harvest so they can make sure to schedule some brewing time to utilize the fresh, whole cone hops for wet hopping. Of course, they can opt to have the harvest hops dried as well for use later if they do not plan to brew during the harvest period.

There is no cost for participation in the FREE THE HOPS program. All the plant material will be provided and space will be allocated on the Home Brewers Hop Row on a first come first serve basis or with the Home Brew Club directly. Participation however, does require the members/home brewers to come to the planting event and assist those that will be monitoring the development of the Hops in the yard throughout the season as well as participate in the harvest of the hops.

We think this is a Win-Win! It encourages more people to grow their own Hops for their brewing but also provides a bit of relief to the costs of home brewing which seem to rise every year.

So WHY is this happening?

Its very simple!  The future of our regional brewing community is our home brewing community. Most of all the new breweries we have seen develop over the last two years are the work of home brewers taking their craft to the next level. In order for the Regional Hop Initiatives to reach their goals, home brewers must become comfortable working with locally sourced hops in order for them to have the confidence to procure local hops when they run commercial breweries. Its a partnership. We assist to educate home brewers on the hops themselves; how to plant, how to grow and what to look for at harvest in exchange for them brewing with local hops and experimenting with recipes they hope one day to take to the next level.

WIN WIN!!

Hop Forward!!!