wilds in essex

[timbo41]

Folks, any one in Halstead / Sible Hedingham area....there us a large stand of wilds on the road between. On right from Halstead, just past gun club turn off. Just now reddening at bottom of cone , red bines.Will have a nose tomorrow.

[timbo41]

sorry guys had no chance to look but can tell you its a dense but sporadic stand big cones red bines reddish tinge to bottom of cone ...hopefully somone will look

[andyCo]

I worked in Sibel Hedingham , nice place .
A bit to far for a hop hunt for me sadly.

Sible Hedingham was the last place in Essex where hops were grown and they were considered to be superior to any others in the county. Hops can still be found growing wild in some hedgerows. To process the various crops of the local farmers there were once three windmills, two watermills, eight maltings and a tannery in Alderford Street. At least two public houses had their own hopfields and breweries.

Andy

[timbo41]

Cheers Andy. Deffo have a good look then next week. Sible used to have loads of pubs...sadly most are gone. Even the Sugar Loaves is boarded up

[philbyford]

I live not too far away in Bures, so will try and have a look. Planning on brewing this weekend, so might try my luck at some wild wet hops!

[YeastWhisperer]

We need photos!

[GrowlingDogBeer]

A local fairly big brewery to me picks their wild hops in Sible Hedingham for their annual Wild Hop brew.

[timbo41]

I live not too far away in Bures, so will try and have a look. Planning on brewing this weekend, so might try my luck at some wild wet hops!

Check your hedgerows mate...there's another big lump in a134 just outside Nayland

[timbo41]

We need photos!

Try this


adult image hosting

[YeastWhisperer]

Nice!

[philbyford]

Went down and picked a few today...

As Timbo said, they are found on the 'fast bend' just as you cross the river on the right hand side. Plenty of them!!

They are found on red bines, long, square in shape, fairly tight in structure, with reddening tips. They bounce back when squashed, papery to touch and have a good amount of lupulin inside. Aroma is quite grassy and vegetal. I made a tea and aroma mellowed out a bit, with hints of mint. I'd say they were pretty ripe for harvesting! Anyone have an idea what variety these might be? Not sure they'd be any good for aroma qualities, but might serve as good bittering hops. Any ideas for storing? I was thinking of drying, but not sure on the best way? I'll try to load some more pics up to help.

Thanks guys.

[seymour]

Bump.

So, did any of you guys brew with these wild Essex hops yet? If so, how did the ale turn out?

Cheers!

[timbo41]

Sort of. 150g in a short boil with dme, added to a scottish export kit. If anything,as still conditioning, i got an earthy,typically english aroma but subtle not boom! Also, slightly spicy. If anything, id say these were fuggly(!) Varietal.
Seeing them all over area now, bit late though.
Seymour, were you aware Adnams put a call out to homebrewers for wild hops, for a seasonal brew? In return,a few bottles and an evaluation? Enterprising!!
Folks, if you pm me your hometown, ill see if i can point you to some wilds for next season...im out in area a lot

[seymour]

Sort of. 150g in a short boil with dme, added to a scottish export kit. If anything,as still conditioning, i got an earthy,typically english aroma but subtle not boom! Also, slightly spicy. If anything, id say these were fuggly(!) Varietal...

Nothing wrong with that, sounds nice and classic. Have you considered transplanting a rhizome from a particularly desirable plant to your own garden?

...Seymour, were you aware Adnams put a call out to homebrewers for wild hops, for a seasonal brew? In return,a few bottles and an evaluation? Enterprising!!

No, I hadn't heard that. Very cool concept. Did you participate? Did you taste the resulting beer?

[timbo41]

http://adnams.co.uk/about/news/beer-new ... needs-you/




Not as yet, but ill be keeping an eye out! Also, TallyHo is back in bottle conditioned form
As to rhoizome, the idea interests me. But the big stand I mentioned in original post is mixed heavily with hedgerow on edge of culvert. When I find one more accessible, ill have a go. Is it possible to procure a known male, and cross pollinate for known characteristics. I know you've an interest