Bine Dried Hops?

[Surly]

My first year hop plants are about done growing here in west central Wisconsin. The plants grew to about 12 feet and I have a nice crop of hops.

I have not harvested them, and am considering just letting them go for another couple of weeks then picking. I will probably place them on a table for a bit then package and freeze them.

Any comments on this process?

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

You'll want to dry them in a dark place. Light will ruin hops. I'd use a large paper bag and just shake the bag every few days until they're dry.

 

[david_42]

As long as they haven't started going brown, fine.

 

[GVH_Dan]

From the title of your post, they won't dry on the bine. They will only continue to mature until the lupulin turns a dark gold then orange then brown. At the same time the bracts will turn brown and its too late. I advise using them as compost for next year.

If they are still green, pluck them and lay them out on a screen or on the table as you described for at least 24 hours.

Unless you are up in Bayfield or some other strange microclimate, I suspect yours are ready for harvest. I'm outside of Madison and we finished our harvest 3 weeks ago.

 

[Surly]

From the title of your post, they won't dry on the bine. They will only continue to mature until the lupulin turns a dark gold then orange then brown. At the same time the bracts will turn brown and its too late. I advise using them as compost for next year.

If they are still green, pluck them and lay them out on a screen or on the table as you described for at least 24 hours.

Unless you are up in Bayfield or some other strange microclimate, I suspect yours are ready for harvest. I'm outside of Madison and we finished our harvest 3 weeks ago.

What a difference a year makes. I am in the process of harvesting a nice crop of Centennial and Cascade. The second year has been very good.

BTW - I am in westcentral WI, about 45 miles east and a bit north of St. Paul, MN.

I did spend eight years enjoying the beers of Madison when I was a lawmaker, and I enjoy getting up to Maggies in Bayfield as well.

 

[GVH_Dan]

Wait until next year...it takes 3 or 4 years to come to maturity. Then either you ramp up brewing or find friends who need hops.

Ha, I was just eating the whitefish liver appetizer in Maggies a couple weeks ago. Went all the way up for the Greg Brown concert at Big Top but left empty handed. He had to cancel due to his M-I-L passing. So, I settled for heading down the SouthShore brewery in Ashland.