Good Score

[Dougan]

So I was talking to my mom yesterday and she mentioned that her coworker had a hop vine in her backyard. Well, I went over there, checked it out, and was back shortly after with a ladder and a 5 gallon bucket. I didn't expect a good harvest since it was only one vine and about 10 feet tall, max. But, holy crap, one of those vines has a ton of hops! They all are hidden in the middle, too, or on the top (they had a trellis with a top) where the sun hits it. Here are a few pictures of my awesome score:

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._615972464676_59500546_37081328_1074739_n.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._615972454696_59500546_37081326_2670865_n.jpg

The bottom half of the bucket was packed in so i could fit them all-- loose would have surely overflowed the bucket. It's just amazing to me that I found out about them -today-. If I had known these hops were available three months ago, I still probably would have chosen today to pick them. Perfect harvest time. To think I've been so mopey about how pitiful my hop rhizomes worked out this year (still alive, about 2 feet tall), too.

The only hops I've ever seen on a vine are cascade, here at the brewery, and these really seem identical in every way. The family with the hop vine said they got the vine planted there by a family member who brews three years ago, so they seem to fit the bill. Only concern is that they were ready now... last year I picked a few hops from the brewery in the first days of September. Seems early. I may post up pictures later to see if anyone can identify, but I'll probably just make an IPA with them and see how it turns out.

My mother also mentioned that she knows a family who says their parents have hop vines in their backyard. She said that they barely speak english but are german and have had the vines since before anyone could remember. It'd be a dream come true to land these (presumably) cascade as well as some decent noble hops (can't find many... all the ones I buy just seem like faint hop-flavored leaves recently) on top of that!

 

[svengoat]

The words lucky bastard come to mind..

 

[bendavanza]

Do they smell like cascades? What a score regardless.

 

[Dougan]

Yeah, they smell like cascades.

I left a lot of small (marble sized) hops on the vine. Do you guys think those will grow up? I didn't feel like spending another two hours picking the tiny ones when I had so many already.

 

[david_42]

I left a lot of small (marble sized) hops on the vine. Do you guys think those will grow up?

Yes, they will keep growing until the first frost or the bine dies.

 

[goodham]

My first year cascades have gone crazy. They are about twent-five feet tall and loaded with hops. I did not expect them to really do anything, but the San Diego climate and a handful of bone meal in the soil has been good to me. I have read what many sites have to say and they generally say the same thing about harvest (wait until they start to turn just a bit brown and papery), but I cannot find any pictures. On the other hand, my Centennial bines are almost as tall, but have just started to produce cones. They still appear hairy. I would hate to harvest either too soon or too late. Can anyone post some close-ups of hops ready to harvest or offer some sound advice?!? Thanks!

 

[bendavanza]

I'm waiting for the tips to yellow and get papery

 

[uechikid]

How many POUNDS do you think you have there.

 

[Dougan]

The weight of the hops was probably four or five pounds, it felt like. That's wet, though, of course. I don't know how much it will dry down to. But it seems like a lot. Maybe a pound dry?

Goodham, the advice I was given, that worked for me when I harvested a dry ounce or two from the local brewery last year, and seems to be right this year as well, is to pick them when they are getting dry. If you squeeze them and they are wet enough to not spring back, then they are a little early. If you squeeze them and they spring back (not necessarily 100%) they are ready.

 

[Joker]

I harvested my second year Cascades the other day and got almost a full 5 gallon bucket worth, currently have them drying and then will weight sometime soon.

 

[cubbies]

Wow. That is killer! Great score.

 

[SamuraiSquirrel]

jealous ..................

I wish i could grow hops in Illinois

 

[homebrewer_99]

All my hops turned brown while I was on the road...all 40 bines...OK, maybe 30, but I didn't count them...

 

[Synovia]

jealous ..................

I wish i could grow hops in Illinois

They're growing fine up here in chicago.

 

[Dougan]

Yeast, Illinois is fine climate for hops.

Just weighed the dried product. 20 oz. I was expecting a pound. Pretty good.

 

[conpewter]

They're growing fine up here in chicago.

I agree, hops are getting close to harvest, I have not seen any that have brown edges (that were not chewed on by the beetles) so I may wait a few more days before harvest.

 

[Crazytwoknobs]

jealous ..................

I wish i could grow hops in Illinois

I'll get nearly a pound from my second year cascades in Wheaton.

 

[Dougan]

I agree, hops are getting close to harvest, I have not seen any that have brown edges (that were not chewed on by the beetles) so I may wait a few more days before harvest.

These guys were literally in the middle of an open field, could explain the early harvesting time.

 

[Joker]

I just bagged mine I got 7.75 ounces off my second year Cascades. Still need to harvest my Willamette but they aren't as plentiful as the Cascade.