Wild hop score in SW MI

[cuinrearview]

So I've been on the lookout for a wild plant for the last few weeks as they're easier to spot once the cones are on. Seems that ErikTLupus has been better at finding them than me. Well, that changed tonight! I got about 3 wet lbs. from a plant that I've passed by about six times in the last couple weeks and just noticed tonight growing up a power pole guy-wire. I left the top 10 ft. on the wire because I couldn't get it down. Good thing my screens were empty because they filled them up. I'm guessing 1/2lb.+ when dry. They smelled pretty citrusy for a wild hop with decent lupulin and nice cone structure. Too bad I broke all of the bines trying to pull them down and probably won't have any way to dry any more before the rest(probably another 3/4lb. dry) brown out on the bine.

If anyone is in the area and wants in on these I'll direct you to where they are and maybe even bring a ladder to help pull down the rest. They smell good enough to me to be worth the trouble if you're adventurous enough in your brewing or just appreciate free hops.

 

[Revvy]

Oh you lucky devil you! I never thought of foraging for wild hops...didn't think there would be many places in our fiar state...any idea what kind they are???

 

[cuinrearview]

They smell very similar to my cascade, but with a bit of tangerine. The cone shape is similar to the pictures I've seen of willamette. The leaves were kind of small but the sidearms were quite long and loaded with cones. Lupulin color was pale to med. yellow and present in a medium level. Density of cones was medium but they came apart slightly when we picked them.

I've not grown, read about, or brewed with hops like this. They are truly wild. If they make a beer as good as they smell then I'll cut you a rhizome next spring revvy.

 

[Revvy]

They smell very similar to my cascade, but with a bit of tangerine. The cone shape is similar to the pictures I've seen of willamette. The leaves were kind of small but the sidearms were quite long and loaded with cones. Lupulin color was pale to med. yellow and present in a medium level. Density of cones was medium but they came apart slightly when we picked them.

I've not grown, read about, or brewed with hops like this. They are truly wild. If they make a beer as good as they smell then I'll cut you a rhizome next spring revvy.

Cool!! Thanks!

 

[HenryHill]

Pics would be very helpful. There are natural, wild hops in MI, especially on the West side of the state, but hops growing on a power pole may not be just a coincidence.

How far from me, Tim?

 

[eriktlupus]

the road where he found them is about 20min from herschels,if that. north of bedford on m37.

 

[cuinrearview]

Pics would be very helpful. There are natural, wild hops in MI, especially on the West side of the state, but hops growing on a power pole may not be just a coincidence.

How far from me, Tim?

'Bout an hour, halfway between Battle Creek and Hastings. The cones look very similar in size, shape, and construction to wilamette. The way that the rounded leaves of the cone kind of lay on each other in a line. But they smell very orangey. Found another, smaller plant a few hundred feet down the road from the first just this morning:rockin:. This one was just growing in a small tree. They're also similar in aroma to some wild ones that Erik found down south of Battle Creek. It looks like I'm going to be home all day. I think that the SWMBO has the digi but if I run across it I'll post a picture. I don't think that I'll be getting anymore of them this year because my drying screens are full and I need to get my cascade down when they're done, which will fill them right back up.

 

[HenryHill]

I can't do it today but I would come around Monday with a ladder, if we can go back to your place and drink beer, too.

You're on days right?

 

[cuinrearview]

Found the digi just after I typed that. These cones are probably 70% the size of the biggest ones.

 

[cuinrearview]

I can't do it today but I would come around Monday with a ladder, if we can go back to your place and drink beer, too. You're on days right?

Tomorrow night's locked up HH, middle school orientation for my oldest.* I can lead you to them but won't be able to help or share a brew.

 

[adamjab19]

In a related thread.....

"So I went to pick my hops today and they were all gone. Someone stole them! I know I planted them on the side of a road by a telephone pole but there was great sun and ditch for water."



I had been up-north last weekend and was keeping my eyes peeled as well. Couldn't find anything.

 

[cuinrearview]

Better keep an eye on them next year Adam, "Hawkeye Jones" is on the prowl. Being better at spotting other plants related to hops would have served me well years ago.

 

[HenryHill]

Wire Balancing.

Maybe 2/5 of the haul.

The whole area is covered in small hop runners, and the staghorn sumac had bines and cones growing in it.

Z's second favorite part of my body, all sticky.

I need some Dawn to wash off my tailgate.

Obligatory Rocky pic.

 

[cuinrearview]

From my experience dawn doesn't readily cut lupulin HH. My hands always feel waxy afterwards no matter how much I scrub. We have a soap in a bathroom that seems to knock it out though.

Glad you're happy with the haul and I'm sorry that I couldn't help. Looking forward to feedback on how much you got, and how much you like them in your beers. I'll follow up as well if I ever get back to brewing. I should be able to get the last of my cascade onto a screen tonight and if the small plant down the road from this one still looks good I may go back and get what looks like about four oz. off of that.

If this proves to be a good variety for beer I am open to rhizome cutting next spring if anyone is interested. I don't think that I'll grow it because, well, it's five fricken minutes from my house and produces more than I can brew with in a year. Unless it's Amarillo, then it'll be planted all over the "CU Acres"

 

[lschiavo]

They are everywhere! I have no idea how to estimate the harvested weight but it looks like a lot.

I am not a brewer but have a friend that is trying to get me started. Anyone know the variety by the pictures? How do I know when to harvest them?

 

[eriktlupus]

They are everywhere! I have no idea how to estimate the harvested weight but it looks like a lot.

I am not a brewer but have a friend that is trying to get me started. Anyone know the variety by the pictures? How do I know when to harvest them?

they look a lot like the ones that are growing down the road from me..when you break them open what do you smell? and remember most will be a combination of aromas.

as for when to pick when they start to feel like paper rather than a wet magazine page they are ready to pick. don't let them go to long they will turn brown and thats to far for brewing use. then spread them out on a screen to dry out for a few days till they pretty much lose all weight. they'll drop like 70-80% of the original weight when ready. most people vacumn pack them in bags of around 2-4oz.

 

[lschiavo]

I have no experience with hops so have no idea what they should smell like. But I find the aroma to be at first like juniper or pine and also notice a bit of citrus.

 

[eriktlupus]

the ones by me are very similar with a more noticeable citrus/tangerine hit. they should be good for brewing but no we don't know what variety they are. unfortunatly most hop yards are out west and all the work being done is done in that area so finding pics of the 2 var. that are native to the michigan area is kinda tough.

pick em spread em out single layyer on a screen and let them dry out of the sun

 

[lschiavo]

Thanks for your help. I'll pick some and give em a try this winter. My buddy has been trying to get me into brewing for a while. Finding these is a good motivation.

 

[cuinrearview]

The cone shape looks similar to what the plant was in the OP. Where are you located? If Erik, Henry Hill, or myself are close I'm sure that one of us would take a look at them. We work for homebrew

 

[lschiavo]

I am in Crystal Falls, South Central UP. A long trip from anywhere downstate. There are thousands of cones here. I plan to harvest some this weekend. Anyone willing to make the trip is welcome to a share. If you are interested i can post some pics of the whole batch.

 

[cuinrearview]

I am interested in them but yah, that's a bit of a haul. Yooperbrew may be interested in helping you with them. PM her for sure. Reference this post if you'd like. If there are truly that many cones you could dry some and mail some downstate for a comparison to what we've found. You may want to wait a bit though as the plants we found down here are just ripening now.

We may have a new variety on our hands Michiganders. Very, very interesting.

 

[lschiavo]

Here are some more pictures maybe you can get a scope of how many there are.

Some are starting to turn brown. I cut one open do they look ready?

 

[eriktlupus]

okay i've located another plant growing here south of the casino. will start picking on friday morning. tim if i dont get ahold of you on the cell call me if your in town on sat. i dont think i can take as much as i seen today.

 

[cuinrearview]

Wild hop bonanza!!

I should be working on Sat. morning Erik and should be able to swing out that way after (10:30ish) so pick what you can dry and I'll haul the screens back out for another round!

That is, if you don't mind sharing

 

[eriktlupus]

tim don't worry about making time to get em or pulling the screens down. they are petty much a bust alittle bit to buggy and somewhat skunky. i pulled a few to test but no hopes for em methinks.

 

[Odawg]

I am in Crystal Falls, South Central UP. A long trip from anywhere downstate. There are thousands of cones here. I plan to harvest some this weekend. Anyone willing to make the trip is welcome to a share. If you are interested i can post some pics of the whole batch.

I tried to PM you back, but no space. I'd be willing to drive there to pick a few. Just a half hour's drive away.

 

[Odawg]

I had a poor year for hops. The cascade and centennial I planted this spring never grew more than a foot tall. Well, actually the centennial never grew. The wild hops growing in three locations nearby Houghton all had low yields this year too. The UP did have a very cold summer, especially along Lake Superior where I had them growing. Have none growing in Iron Mountain, where they'd likely fair better.

 

[conpewter]

I've thought about being the "Johnny apple seed" of hops... lots of backroads here with powerlines etc. I get so many shootoffs during the spring growth.

 

[HoppyDaze]

I've thought about being the "Johnny apple seed" of hops... lots of backroads here with powerlines etc. I get so many shootoffs during the spring growth.

great idea!....find some near the irrigation ditches

 

[cuinrearview]

great idea!....find some near the irrigation ditches

I'd said last year I wanted to be "Johnny Hoppelseed" this spring, but never did it. I think that this would be a great idea for anyone to try. In my area the bugs and deer would make it a long term proposition as far as a yield would be concerned, but with a plan and a map to remember where you put what it would be really cool!