2007 Challenger Hops - Start to Finish in Pictures
2007 Challenger Hops - Start to Finish in Pictures
Notes
Apologies for the number of shots (19 @ ~85KB each) for those on slow connections... I've put these notes first to give you something to read while they load...
Total harvest was 700g when fully dry and fits into 2 x 5L containers when compressed. I didn't weigh them when picked, but it was about a volume of 40L all told.
I had ~780g after the first stage of drying for 48 hours using the drying frame. I then switched to my old method of using hop drying pockets (made from two sheets of newspaper folded and stapled down the sides) on top of the central heating boiler for a few days. Although not planned this worked out well as because the hops were nearly dry I was able to stuff the pockets much more heavily, and therefore I only needed two. If they had been "wet" then I would probably have needed more like ten which becomes unmanageable.
Next year I'll give the bine another fence panel to use, and try to thin out the number of shoots more. Even if this doesn't increase the yield it might make the hops easier to pick as they won't be quite so congested and buried under foliage.
My Cobb Golding harvest was a disaster this year, which I put down to the age of the plant and the weather conditions. Ironically I made a much better job of thinning and spreading the bine's growth.
Apologies for the number of shots (19 @ ~85KB each) for those on slow connections... I've put these notes first to give you something to read while they load...
Total harvest was 700g when fully dry and fits into 2 x 5L containers when compressed. I didn't weigh them when picked, but it was about a volume of 40L all told.
I had ~780g after the first stage of drying for 48 hours using the drying frame. I then switched to my old method of using hop drying pockets (made from two sheets of newspaper folded and stapled down the sides) on top of the central heating boiler for a few days. Although not planned this worked out well as because the hops were nearly dry I was able to stuff the pockets much more heavily, and therefore I only needed two. If they had been "wet" then I would probably have needed more like ten which becomes unmanageable.
Next year I'll give the bine another fence panel to use, and try to thin out the number of shoots more. Even if this doesn't increase the yield it might make the hops easier to pick as they won't be quite so congested and buried under foliage.
My Cobb Golding harvest was a disaster this year, which I put down to the age of the plant and the weather conditions. Ironically I made a much better job of thinning and spreading the bine's growth.
Last edited by Chiltern Brewer on Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- spearmint-wino
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Fantastic stuff
drinking: ~ | conditioning: ~ | primary: ~ | Looks like I need to get brewing then...
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Thanks guys.
The PVC coated fibre glass mesh is sold for making fly screens at my local hardware store, and cost me about £5 for a 1200mm x 1000mm piece. You can cut it with scissors, stitch it, wash it, fold it up and then put it away in a drawer!
For small amounts I still think the newspaper hop pocket is my best idea. I didn't give the hops long enough on the drying frame and the gentle heat from the boiler and the wicking effect from the newspaper just did the trick.
Yep, I had complicated ideas about boxes with built in fans etc... but where the hell was I going to store it for the rest of the year? Also I didn't have the time or skill to build a Black Big Brewery Oast House.DaaB wrote:Like the hop dryer, nice and simple
The PVC coated fibre glass mesh is sold for making fly screens at my local hardware store, and cost me about £5 for a 1200mm x 1000mm piece. You can cut it with scissors, stitch it, wash it, fold it up and then put it away in a drawer!
For small amounts I still think the newspaper hop pocket is my best idea. I didn't give the hops long enough on the drying frame and the gentle heat from the boiler and the wicking effect from the newspaper just did the trick.
I'll keep an eye out for those Ziploc bags - might me useful as I start to empty the containers. Where can you get them? I've used ordinary plastic freezer/sandwich bags before, but they are a bit flimsy (hop stalks can sometimes poke holes in them) hence the swap to 5L containers.
BTW, I don't store my hops in the freezer but a dark cool cupboard. Challenger seems to age well, but maybe I should put half of them in the freezer? I don't want them to get frostbite!
BTW, I don't store my hops in the freezer but a dark cool cupboard. Challenger seems to age well, but maybe I should put half of them in the freezer? I don't want them to get frostbite!
I would say it's definately worth doing, if nothing else when talking to non-brewers it's quite nice to say in an off hand way "oh yes I grow my own hops too..."flytact wrote:1) OUTSTANDING! I may try to grow some next spring.
Otherwise I find most people are only interesting in sampling your beer and not talking about!
Also just make sure you pick a hop you like, as you might end up with more than you need in a few years. If you want hops ASAP follow SteveD's example and pay the extra for rhizomes and prepare the soil well.