Recent content by DPDISXR4Ti

I've got 6 shoots growing (exactly what I planted) in a "top secret" ridge location with a southwest exposure. They're not taking off too aggressively, but maybe that's because more energy is going into the root development this year. We'll see what we get by September! I guess if they really...

I decided to go ahead and plant them in what I hope will become the new hop garden. If these don't take off, I'll just go get some more.

For several years I've harvested some "wild" hops in the woods somewhat near me, but it would be much more convenient to have some in my own yard. So the other day I dug up some roots and brought them home along with my annual harvest. I realize Spring is probably a better time to have dug...

Too late for the weight-reduction method since they've already been drying for a couple days. But I may go pick another batch - I can try using that method then. But really, they'll lose 80% of their weight!? It was dry here until yesterday. Now it feels like it's mid-July for a couple...

I realize this pic doesn't tell us much, but I feel obliged to post it any way. :)

Thanks for the confirmation on the possible correct guess of "Clusters" and the drying. I've got the hops spread out on a couple cookie sheets sitting on the kitchen table. Is there a method to determine when they've dried out enough and/or a rough target on the number of days they should sit out?

Harvested some of these today - very spicy and aromatic. Clusters? I seem to recall that I should dry them out a bit before freezing for future use - yes, no, maybe???

Thanks for the input. Once the vegetation dies off a bit I may go dig up some root and plant it elsewhere in the woods. Well, a sunny section of the "woods". :D Worse case, it doesn't take and I just try again in the Spring.

^^^ Thanks for the input. I guess there's no "easy" way to figure this out. The area was first settled in the 1700's and was last inhabited about 90 years ago when the mines shut down for good. So certainly it's a hearty breed to have survived the past 90+ years without any attention. I...

Ah, but that theory wouldn't hold up too well in this case. This was an 8-mile spur that dead-ended at the mine a few hundred yards away.

Ironically enough, they're about 100 feet from the old rail line, and 20 feet from the last remaining miner's house. So you're thinking they were indeed planted (not so much "wild"), yes?

Wow, how far north are you? I figured ideal harvest time was a couple weeks away yet, but I'm only about 35 miles north of the city.

Any idea how far south into "upstate NY" the Cluster hops were grown? Reason I ask is that I just found some unknown hops growing in the wild in Orange County NY.

I live near an old mining community (abandoned in the 1920's when the mines shut down), and while hiking there the other day I found some hops growing. No idea if they are truly "wild" or a left-over from the mining days. Regardless, I thought it would be neat to use them when I brew this...

If it's not re-started today, I'd be thinking about a "Plan B". Note my comments above about using amalyze enzyme to successfully re-energize a stuck fermentation. I won't even bother with any other method in the future - this was too simple and effective.