is there a way to figure out what kind of wild hop is growing?

[homebrewertodd]

Hi. My friend found out after cutting down a tree, that she has wild hops growing in her back yard. Is there any way to tell what kind they are?

 

[philjohnwilliams]

If they are wild hops then they probably aren't a known strain of hop used for brewing. That being said, it might be interesting to use some in a 1 gallon batch to see what they are like

 

[purplehaze]

I remember reading that there is a company that will check the alpha acids and such but the cost was too high to justify.

I also have some wild ones growing around the yard. I looked at what kind used to grow in the area to narrow it down a bit. I then brewed a lighter beer using the wild hops with early and late additions. It came out pretty good, I think mine are Cluster.

 

[unionrdr]

The only thing to be concerned with here is if it's truly a variety gone wild from an old hop farm or other,or if it's an ornamental variety. The ornamental ones are pretty worthless for brewing. After hearing some of these stories,& checking out some history from the last 150 years or so,I know old long gone hop farms have left some growing wild for years. You could even have your state's agricultural college check them out for you.

 

[bchurch]

Down my way there is Japanese hops growing all over, they are worthless when it comes to brewing.