Hop Rhizome Recommendations for NJ and New England

[zyx345]

My friends and I are looking to try growing hops this year in both NJ and the Massachusetts area.

Is there any species of hops that grows particularily well in NJ and Massachusetts? i.e. Cascade, Centennial, Nugget, etc..

I've also read that home grown hops should be used for aroma rather than bittering due AA% inconsistencies.

Should I focus on Aroma hops only?

 

[jester5120]

Cascades will grow well almost anywhere. centennials, nuggets, and CTZ are close seconds. you can grow both aroma and bittering hops. you won't know the exact AA%. i just count on an average AA% when i brew (Cascades are between 5-8 so i figure on 6.5).

also rhizomes won't give you much production the first year so i'd spend a few extra bucks and get crowns from great lakes hops. they're already a year old and should give you a nice yield

 

[sweetcell]

you could check out the link in my signature for some ideas on what might do well. jester's suggestions are very good ones.

 

[jessox80]

I agree that Cascades are an almost can't miss. I had great success with Newport, a particularly hearty hop. It is known more for bittering than aroma or flavoring, but I brewed an all-Newport single malt with my first-year harvest and got the most flavorful beer I have ever tasted...super wild. Nugget does well so far for a friend (even with a lot of neglect). I would stay away from Euro-varieties, they are notoriously fickle.

 

[DarkBrood]

+1 for the Cascades....always a good bet.

 

[konrad]

I'm on Mass and I have cascade sazz and nugget. Nugget have been the best growers got me.

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, I grew four each Centennial, Chinook and Cascades from pencil-thick rhizomes last season and was able to harvest enough cones to brew five batches of brew without using any store-bought hops. Pretty much covered the start-up costs right there

Cheers!

 

[zyx345]

Thanks to all for all of the replies! Any additional welcome.

 

[Greatlakeshops]

There is a really good study done by the state of Vermont on varieties for the East Coast.
I posted it at our site - Look in the left margin for "Docs" (documents).
In the long history of hop growing in the U.S., your area was the first to grow them.
Did you know the Puritans grew Hops?