Cedar Rapids Beer Nuts

tony b · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 372 Location: CR, IA

Thinking it might be time to harvest some of the serious buds on my hop plant. Some buds are almost 2 inches long and have the yellow schmutz at the interior base of the petals.

Any body else who's growing their own started harvesting yet?

kurtford · Joined: 18 Oct 2009 Posts: 109 Location: Cedar Rapids

I just have a bunch of spiky looking half inch buds so far. It's only first year plant and looks like I'll have enough to dry hop something depending how it turns out.

BrewHound · Joined: 24 May 2007 Posts: 495

I already have a bunch ready for picking. Just haven't had time to build a oast yet. I guess I am going to have to improvise.

carrisr · Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Posts: 285 Location: Stone City, IA

My first year plants have tiny spiky buds too, but I doubt they'll develop into much this year. Something has been voracious in eating the leaves. I found a couple of caterpillars of some sort, and have been plucking them off when I find them. I also suspect the extremely wet weather we've had out here isn't helping either.

Matt F · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 705 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA

I didn't take care of mine this year after the move so the deer have eaten most of them. If you harvest a few each day a regular food dehydrator can dry a bunch for you. An oast is best.

BrewHound · Joined: 24 May 2007 Posts: 495

tony b · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 372 Location: CR, IA

Except your beer ends up tasting like Redman!

Skoal, brutha!!

tony b · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 372 Location: CR, IA

Pick some major buds today, dudes! Here are some photos of the first round of probably several in this year's harvest. This thing is going gangbusters; it's still flowering.

tony b · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 372 Location: CR, IA

Since I can only post 3 pix at a time, here's the 4th picture of the drying rack in the garage. Used an old window screen.

Matt F · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 705 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA

Cool. Looks like they are doing well. That is the same way I have dried hops in the past. The problem is they will only get so dry in a humid climate like Iowa. You will at least need to have a fan on them to finish them as air drying in Iowa is not dry enough from my experience. I think a fan will do the job though.

tony b · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 372 Location: CR, IA

Checked them a bit ago and they are starting to dry out. I have a small fan that I can hook up to help with air movement if needed (thanks for the tip Matt!)

What's the best way to tell when they are "dry enough" to bag and freeze?

kurtford · Joined: 18 Oct 2009 Posts: 109 Location: Cedar Rapids

Here is my hops that I got from Matt this spring, nothing like Tony's but it's only the first year. This what I picked so far, not a big as Tony's load of hops, but should be enough to dry hop something.

Matt F · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 705 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA

Nice to see those hops out there.

Tony, you might try putting a few in a zip lock in the sun and see if any moisture forms on the inside. It doesn't take many and you won't want to use those. Sun bad. If no moisture forms, you're dry.

Mr T · Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 404 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA

I say you immediately throw in beer… and then drink..

From: Matt F [mailto:brew-tech@crbeernuts.org]
Sent: Sunday, August 08, 2010 12:18 AM
To: brew-tech@crbeernuts.org
Subject: Re: Hop Harvest

Nice to see those hops out there.

Tony, you might try putting a few in a zip lock in the sun and see if any moisture forms on the inside. It doesn't take many and you won't want to use those. Sun bad. If no moisture forms, you're dry.

Matt Franklin
Slappy Brewing North

Post generated using Mail2Forum (http://www.mail2forum.com)

tony b · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 372 Location: CR, IA

Kurt, looking awesome for 1st year, my man. My plant didn't produce any its first year and I didn't get as much as your plant has on it even in the second year. Total harvest was only about a double handful. Still enough to dry hop a gallon of IPA.

I have another 1st year plant going rith next to this one and its only about 2 ft tall with not many leaves and no flowers.