Japan Hops Trading -

[guitarguru210]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum but I wanted to post to let you guys know that I put in an order for

3 Cascade
3 Chinook
3 Willamette
and 3 Nugget

my experience with fresh-hops was a bit rocky, but I finally convinced him to let me place an order.

at first (Dave) told me he wouldn't accept orders under 25 rhizomes, but i convinced him to sell me 12. I am assuming this is because the paperwork is not worth the money on small orders. I have dealt with the USDA before and its a pain in the butt.

i paid 4.50 each and 5.35 for shipping and 35 for the cert.

I hope to grow all of these and next year i could have some offspring.

 

[WhoZiT]

Anyone have a cutting of shinshu wasei they'd be willing to make for me? I'll pay for shipping. I can even trade something. PM me if you can help.

I'm also interested in Sorachi Ace, but seeming that this is the first year that it's readily available I'm guessing that homebrewers don't have any to cut zhomes from. If you do, you'd make my day(and my hop yard)!

 

[Blue-Frog]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum but I wanted to post to let you guys know that I put in an order for

3 Cascade
3 Chinook
3 Willamette
and 3 Nugget

my experience with fresh-hops was a bit rocky, but I finally convinced him to let me place an order.

at first (Dave) told me he wouldn't accept orders under 25 rhizomes, but i convinced him to sell me 12. I am assuming this is because the paperwork is not worth the money on small orders. I have dealt with the USDA before and its a pain in the butt.

i paid 4.50 each and 5.35 for shipping and 35 for the cert.

I hope to grow all of these and next year i could have some offspring.

Hi Guru! Welcome to the hangout.

Humm
Maybe you could ask him to include a few of my desires with your 12?
(see post #146)

especially any Noble Hop (Hallertau mittlefruh)
one of its kin,
Mt. Hood or Liberty or Tradition

or less likely...
S. Ace
Nelson Sauvin
Hallertauer Blanc

(5.35 for shipping.... Sweet! So, you're an APOer?)

 

[Blue-Frog]

Anyone have a cutting of shinshu wasei they'd be willing to make for me? I'll pay for shipping. I can even trade something. PM me if you can help.

I'm also interested in Sorachi Ace, but seeming that this is the first year that it's readily available I'm guessing that homebrewers don't have any to cut zhomes from. If you do, you'd make my day(and my hop yard)!

There is a possibility I might acquire one.
If I do, I will keep you in mind.

In the mean time there is a jerk on yahoo...

http://hananoyakata.shop-pro.jp/?mode=cate&cbid=1605026&csid=0

that has a site claiming to sell them but they have been sold out for 4 years now. ask me how i know. "They" by the way means every hop he has listed, not just Shinshu Wase.

If I were closer, i'd explain to him in person how irritating it is to be teased by ads... hours of life lost checking back again and again.... evey year he says...check back in a couple of weeks.


Anyway, one can usually find a few named varieties in japan online later in the season.

Just stay away from hananoyakata
(or squeeze him to either offer something or pull down the ads!)

 

[Guzzibrew]

Guitar Guru,

That is quite a shipment. Is this your first attempt at Hops cultivation? Hopefully they'll grow for you in Okinawa. Keep us informed. I'm not too far away in Fukuoka and would like more hops as well.

GG

 

[Guzzibrew]

Blue Frog,

I'm interested in buying some malt. PM me and we can talk!

On a similar note I'm thinking about placing an order for base malt, probably Maris Otter, and if I can get some people together for a bigger order maybe some other varieties.

Anyone in Kyushu interested in joining me?

GB

 

[Blue-Frog]

Slow commmuniicaashun....

old stuff:

RE: Blue Frog you were wanting an update on the hops OB provided:
No pictures yet (I'll try and take a couple tomorrow).
<<?!>>
Both my Centennial and Magnum have put out one pretty good bine each, the Magnum has a second smaller bine that I'll keep going, the Centennial has an additional 2 small bines, but none big enough to train.

Well, MY cenntenial is growing as a "miniature",
with very short internodes... it would be cool if this was a healthy &#31361;&#28982;&#22793;&#30064;&#12289;
but this sort of growth is also described as resulting from virus or viroid infection.

It is very hard for me to "cull" anything... be it fish, dogs or plants; I even have a soft spot for weeds and mice.... but if any of our plants are infected, they should really be destroyed...uh, "sacrificed". The virusus I have been reading about that might be indicated here can live in the cut vine 3 months
and in the roots, over winter...
and as they spread via both by aphids...&#12288;and cutting/prunning tools
... knowingly keeping them near healthy plants is a pretty bad idea!

I am hopeful that anyone who is growing Centennial here can keep an eye on their plants, and post some pixs if anything unusual or remarkable is noted.

I think snow16 mentioned he was growing Centennial; snow16, What does your Centennial look like?
If it looks much better, would you consider sending me some unrooted cuttings?
(something still growing near the ground?) I should be able to root them myself, and save you - all the fun!

Anyway...
I will try to get a few pictures myself to illustrate what I am talking about.
I really don't want kill these guys....

Newer old stuff:
Guzzibrew, I actually did pm you, but I would not doubt you failed to get it.
I can't find any trace of it to send you again myself!

Well, I am not sure about malts now...
There doesn't seem to be much interest at the moment... perhaps later?
Did you have any luck with your local call?

Dont know how to insert comments under each picture, so I will just say
1st Picture with 2 planters showing: 120 cm Magnum on the left, 60 cm Stunted (Dwarf?) Centenial on the right.

2nd Picture with close-up showing: Centenial showing the closely spaced internodes

3rd Picture with Ladder Showing: Normal growing Hop Plant, up to the 2nd floor already (>300 cm.).

 

[Blue-Frog]

see other thread :Home brewing in Japan

 

[snow16]

I think snow16 mentioned he was growing Centennial; snow16, What does your Centennial look like?
If it looks much better, would you consider sending me some unrooted cuttings?

Sorry it took so long - I missed this somehow. My Centennnial are moving slow this year and not looking nearly as healthy as I had hoped. I'm not giving up hope, but they're definitely not ready for cuttings! I'll keep you posted as they (hopefully) progress! Best of luck to everyone growing hops out there -

 

[sabotenfighter]

How big are those planters Blue-Frog? Look awfully small. I read in BYO that something along the size of 40L and deep was necessary per hop plant if you wanted decent production. Ive got 3 cascades from the owner of Popeye's hop farm growing in some of the biggest containers I could find at the DIY shop. Two growing in one of those and one growing by itself. Used leftover rose bush soil and fresh veggie container soil with some manure in one container and just straight greens dirt in the other. All three are growing fairly quick and healthy looking if not a little yellow from the containers draining a bit fast.

 

[Blue-Frog]

ca. 23 (max 27cm) x 33 cm x 66 cm

So, not as small as they may look!

True, the maximum volume in not fully used....
I can't recall the advertised vol. but I bought them in acoordance with knowledge of what other people were using/suggesting.

The important point here is the 3 planters are all the same volume,
but the 3 plants are way different in their growth.


SNOW16:
Where did you get your Centennials? Are they from the same imeadiate source as mine?
If so, and my fear is well founded, I suspect your centennials won't do well...
Please keep me informed.
I hope I am wrong!

 

[Blue-Frog]

Update:

Magnum : no change, some spikes.

Centennial : Finally, exhibitting normal growth, with some bullish masculine vines... no burrs yet but still very promising at this point.

Other Hops : on 2nd and third flushes, or finished for the season.

 

[sabotenfighter]

When about are you guys typically harvesting? As Japanese summers are pretty long for most of the country is it more like late September? One of my plants is coning out pretty good, but they are still somewhat small. My other two are starting to yellow mid bine, probably getting too hot. These two also had spider mite issues the whole season, and only have a few small cones, so not expecting much.

 

[guitarguru210]

My first year crops got hammered by the last typhoon that came through here. so I think I will be keeping a low profile this season.

 

[Blue-Frog]

When about are you guys typically harvesting?

Nobody has answerd so I will comment and update my rambling bines.

My harvest dates fall between end of July to mid Sept. ;
usually I get two crops which I combine.
This year was a bit strange.
Unseasonal Weather... or just my depression?

My regulars were harvested in Aug. Later, No more flowers were produced.
Chinese single strand 100&#65509;-shop ASA HIMO broke 3 times this year
overall yield was down by about 30%.

The Centennial that has had such a hard time - finally flowered
and the smallish cones were picked between Sept 20 and 26.

The Magnum stopped growing at the size shown above.

I still want some new stock. If anyone is going to Germany,
or wants to group buy next march, please keep me in mind.

 

[OppamaBrendan]

Its been a while since I posted! So my A-Frame trellis ended up completely overgrown by the hyoutan and hops, creating a nice dark tunnel between my house and the neighbours. This was really appreciated during the heat of the summer, I think it was a good 10C cooler in the house because of it! Too bad the bottle gourds got the upper hand and the hops didnt do well, only the cascade on the end produced much, with the other hops shaded out too much. Even the cascade only got harvested last week, and smelled too grassy to me - they were starting to get dry and browned and should have been perfect picking but the aroma was way different than I expected (fine when I rubbed a cone between my palms though)

Me and my dad just brewed and are transferring to fermenter a hoppy wheat ale from unhopped extract. We only used the homegrown cascade for aroma, and legacy for the bittering. Once it hit the kettle the cascade seemed to lose the grassy smell but didnt get a potent C note.

I have decided that Magnum and Centennial are not cutting it in this climate either, and will be interested in replacing them with other stock next year.

Who here has used this site for detailed info on the varieties?
http://beerlegends.com/hops-varieties
I think I will go through them to find tougher strains that have a high yield, and then try to sort out which of those to order. If I can't easily grow the popular ones here along the humid coast, I should be pragmatic about it and find something that at least is producing something.

And to end on at least a positive note, all the hops I have are at least full of decent sized bines and appear healthy, even if their production failed. Next year I won't plant gourds near them and hit them with preventative NEEM oil earlier on to keep those caterpillars away.

 

[sabotenfighter]

Well, I got one smallish but decent harvest from one plant in time to late wet hop a CDA I brewed 2 weeks ago and since then have had about the same amount on the same plant mature further up the bine. One of my other two cascades got super genki out of nowhere and has a load of good looking flowers on it. I still has some burrs, so might get 2 harvests out of it as well. Ill probably do the first picking from it this weekend or the next. Ill post some pics when I get home.

 

[buggslife]

Hey Brendan,
I'll be over in Tochigi province for work from next weekend.

A couple of questions if you can help:

1. How / where can I buy Japanese hops (dried leaf or pellet) to bring back for brewing?
Do homebrew shops exist out there?

2. I grow 3 varieties myself in the UK - Goldings, Cascade and Chinook - assuming I can get them through the airport I'd be happy to bring you a cutting or two.

Any advice on question 1 would be very welcome.

Cheers.

 

[Blue-Frog]

I am looking into a getting a group buy going for hops this year.

Anyone interested?

Were there any issues with the last group buy? Did things work out well?
(It might be a bit early, but you might be able to find buds already if you look for them)

BF

 

[guitarguru210]

I could probably for for 3-4 rhizomes this year, my plants from last year arent doing too well.

 

[Blue-Frog]

Good. I sent out feelers to to two suppliers already.

 

[ShizuokaBrad]

I'm interested in a group buy. Which company ships to Japan? Or are there any military guys on here who could receive them for us?

 

[Blue-Frog]

That's what I've enquired about.
Some sources don't ship to APO addresses, but it might save a few $.
if they ship internationally we should be good.
AIH was used last time...
I plan on comparing our options then report back.

Group consensus and the like....

 

[ShizuokaBrad]

Cheers. Are you also the person on the Tokyo Home Brewer FB page who is organizing a group buy? Last month I sent message to Fresh Hops but never heard anything back from them. I also sent a message to MoreBeer but still waiting.

 

[Blue-Frog]

Nail on the Head. (How can I recogize you?-Are you going Hanami-ing?)

I have sent out about 10 letters so far... the 1st reply just came in negative.
The 2 you mention, I also contacted... no response yet.

 

[guitarguru210]

So last year I contacted fresh hops and had to beg for 12 rhizomes. Apparently its a huge pain in the ass because they have to go through a health inspection for the plants to make sure they don't have any crazy fungus or bacteria on it. So a lot of people don't want to ship to FPO because of that.

 

[Blue-Frog]

yes its a bummer.

So far two "No" responses have come in...
but... never say never.

 

[ShizuokaBrad]

I heard back from Toronto Home Brewing and they are willing to ship to Japan but depends on the size of the order. They didn't give me any specifics though about what is a big enough order. They have Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Fuggle, Hallertau, Kent Golding, and Williamette on Pre-order. The cost is 8.99 $CND per rhizome but I have no information on the price of shipping. Exchange rates are pretty favorable right now.

 

[ShizuokaBrad]

Nail on the Head. (How can I recogize you?-Are you going Hanami-ing?)

I have sent out about 10 letters so far... the 1st reply just came in negative.
The 2 you mention, I also contacted... no response yet.

I'm in the Tokyo group. My name is Bradley. I started the thread about hop rhizomes in that group the other day. I won't be hanami-ing this year because we've bought a new house and will be moving then...

 

[Blue-Frog]

Toronto Home Brewing? Toronto Brewing... they have more than 1 location.
1 says yes other says no.

I got a positive response from one place and a no from AIH.

I am working on a wish list... anyone what to chime in?
Even if you are not buying this year, which hop dificult to get here, or hop plant, would you like to be able to get in the future?