Hops

Hops provide both bitterness and aroma qualities to beers. Hops are grown for their different characteristics.

Hops (Humulus Lupulus) are dioecious, which means that male plants and female plants occur. It is the female plant which produces the hop cones we use in brewing. Male plants are only used in the UK where they are grown at 1 per 1000 females. Males were originally introduced to pollenate the female plants, pollenation reduced the burr stage (a time when they were very susceptible to Powdery Mildew) it also had the added bonus of increasing yields. All other countries produce hops without the use of male plants. This is why English hops are seeded and most others are seedless.

Male Plant in Pollen

During the Winter months the wirework which the hops climb are repaired.

During March and April the shoots start to grow and two or three are selected for growing on to maturity. The Bines can grow to 5.5 m for the tall varieties. In hot days during the summer the hops can grow 15cm in one day!

All through August the cones grow and mature. Yields are very dependent on the sun and rain. Light is very important as hops produce less cones if the canopy of leaves is too thick, also not enough or too much rain can depress yields. This is a very precarious time for growers as a promising looking crop can quickly deteriorate if mother nature decides to be difficult.


Hop yard before the harvest


Tall hops being harvested in September


Hop yard before the harvest


Cooling floor - September

Photographs courtesy of Charles Farams & Co Ltd.