Recent content by johnnyboy1965

What growing medium do you have in the pots ?

Ive often been slated on this site with regards to harvesting first year hops. Id like to thank you as you have gone some way in proving my point. First year hops should not be harvested, they should be removed before they even flower. In the first year this puts all the growing energy back into...

A first year hop plant (or any other perenial plant) wants to flower and set seed. This is what plants do. If you remove the cones/flowers before they set seed it diverts its energy into producing a stronger rhizome/root for next year. Yes, you will get a harvest from a first year plant, but if...

What are you brewing?

B-Hoppy....As small time growers, what are your thoughts on removing any cones on first year plants ?

First year hops should not be allowed to flower/set seed. As soon as one appears nip it out. This will concentrate all the plants efforts into producing a stronger rhizome for next years harvest. You wont have any hops this season but next year you will have a much bigger crop.

Youve just reminded me of a conversation I had many years ago. I was in a pub and a elderly couple walked in and ordered a pint of bitter and 1/2 of Guinness with a splash of double cream. I asked the lady "why the splash of cream?" " Have you ever tried it ?" she replied. I went to the bar...

Lactose will add sweetness due to its unfermentable sugar content. It will also add a milk flavour and aroma. Milk Brown...why not ? The only trouble is that you have got to balance the malt, hops and milk flavours together. Im afraid this one is trial and error.

I think my reply might have come across wrong. It was a very funny and light-hearted conversation and the grower was very helpful. He even invited me to go and have a look around.

B-Hoppy.. Ive always read your posts with interest and I am truly glad of your input. Thank you. I recently spoke to a hop farmer in Worcester, UK. about pruning/selecting bines and his reply to the question about pruning/selecting bines was:- "just put them in the ground, give them something...

Northdown 6-8 A/A 2010 Harvest Target 10.5-11.5 A/A 2009 Harvest Im sorry Ive really got too much time on my hands HTH Johnnyboy

BRB on this, Ive got to check out some notes

All classic British noble hops, and all widly available in the UK. Check out the IBU`s of Target as they can sometimes be a bit harsh, depending on the year.

That will be the dreaded "vote of confidence" then.

www.copperkettlehomebrewing.co.uk/hops/315/northdown