Hello!
My wife went out to pick blackberries today and she came back with this!! The vine was growing in and among the blackberry bushes. If you found something like this, what would you do with them?
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I think, first and foremost- you order some flowers, wine, chocolates... something for your wife. Whatever she likes. Because that woman is a keeper!! Hang on to her!!!
(My wife helped to hand harvest our homegrown hops last year... and she got the brunt of the work as I was brewing... she too is a keeper!!)
I would say- use them a fresh wet hop addition. Whirlpool. Go with a basic malt bill, basic nuetral bittering (something you've used, like, and know for both grain and bittering).
Then toss thoose fresh babies in for a hop stand/ whirlpool!! I think that is the "safest" route to go. Also, it lets you experience the aroma the best.
+1 to a small batch if you can. Also, maybe do 2 small batches? One for bittering, one for aroma?
As for storing... i would trim to just cones. Toss the leaves, stems, etc. You just want the cones. There are really three basic ways to use: (pulled from the home grow hops section here.. this is supet simplified).
#1 You can dry them and then save (vacumn sealed is best of course) for a while. Drying is a delicate process. You can also make your own pellets or plugs. Again, more work, delicate (you can ruin the hops doing this wrong).
#2 use them as fresh whole cone hops in the brewing process. I would not use a dry hop- infection risk. Small, but still possible. Use at 170 or higher after the boil.
#3- vacumn seal and throw in the freezer- then use in step 2 again when ready. (This is what i did and it works prerty good, and is the easiest, too. I am lazy).
Finally... can you go back and get more? Safely/ Legally? Grab a root for planting next year? That to me would also dictate use.
Whatever you do, please report back to us!!! And tell your wife she Rocks!
Cheers!
