The art of brewing beer privately has grown tremendously over the past several years. The ingredients are easy to obtain, the directions are relatively straightforward, and the results can vary from mediocre to outstanding. It is an inexpensive hobby for people who like the taste of beer and enjoy playing with different flavors and mixtures of ingredients. Some even like to try creating Illinois homegrown hops from scratch instead of buying the fruit already mature and dried.
You can purchase hop rhizomes, which are underground roots, online or from a commercial grower. There are different varieties to choose from. Once you have the plants, you will need to plant them in a sunny area that has good drainage and healthy soil. These vines are going to grow up to thirty feet or so, so you will have to put the plants in an area where there is room for a vertical pole or trellis.
Knowing exactly when the plants are ready to be harvested seems to require experience and a good sense of smell, touch, and sight. Once the fruit appears and is ready to be plucked, you will need a ladder to get to the top of the plants. If you don't have a ladder handy, you can pull the plants to the ground and pick the fruit that way. Commercial growers have equipment to remove the fruit, but most amateur growers don't go to the expense.
Once you have the fruit off the vine, you have to set them out to dry as soon as possible. People who do this all the time invest in a dehydrator for the purpose. Unless you decide to become a serious brewer, you will probably settle for arranging the fruit on a cloth or an old screen that has been protected from any moisture or direct sunlight.
If you intend to use them right away, putting them in an airtight container should be fine. What you are not using immediately needs to be placed in zip lock bags and put in the freezer until you are ready to brew.
Once you are ready use them, it is time to experiment. The alpha acid content can be an issue and determining it can be difficult. Some brewers place the hops in cheesecloth before they add them to the boil. You may have to consult recipes, or friends and family who have experience in this part of the process.
Brewing your own beer is a fairly inexpensive hobby. It doesn't require specialized equipment or years of study to master it. Since you are not investing huge amounts of money in your batches, you can afford to try out different mixtures and flavors to see what works and what fails. Home brewers are not encouraged to try to sell their beers. You may get into a lot of unexpected trouble if you do.
Brewing beer can be a lot of fun and the more you do from scratch, the more unique your special brand will be. You'll impress everyone by starting with the plants and ending with the toast.
You can purchase hop rhizomes, which are underground roots, online or from a commercial grower. There are different varieties to choose from. Once you have the plants, you will need to plant them in a sunny area that has good drainage and healthy soil. These vines are going to grow up to thirty feet or so, so you will have to put the plants in an area where there is room for a vertical pole or trellis.
Knowing exactly when the plants are ready to be harvested seems to require experience and a good sense of smell, touch, and sight. Once the fruit appears and is ready to be plucked, you will need a ladder to get to the top of the plants. If you don't have a ladder handy, you can pull the plants to the ground and pick the fruit that way. Commercial growers have equipment to remove the fruit, but most amateur growers don't go to the expense.
Once you have the fruit off the vine, you have to set them out to dry as soon as possible. People who do this all the time invest in a dehydrator for the purpose. Unless you decide to become a serious brewer, you will probably settle for arranging the fruit on a cloth or an old screen that has been protected from any moisture or direct sunlight.
If you intend to use them right away, putting them in an airtight container should be fine. What you are not using immediately needs to be placed in zip lock bags and put in the freezer until you are ready to brew.
Once you are ready use them, it is time to experiment. The alpha acid content can be an issue and determining it can be difficult. Some brewers place the hops in cheesecloth before they add them to the boil. You may have to consult recipes, or friends and family who have experience in this part of the process.
Brewing your own beer is a fairly inexpensive hobby. It doesn't require specialized equipment or years of study to master it. Since you are not investing huge amounts of money in your batches, you can afford to try out different mixtures and flavors to see what works and what fails. Home brewers are not encouraged to try to sell their beers. You may get into a lot of unexpected trouble if you do.
Brewing beer can be a lot of fun and the more you do from scratch, the more unique your special brand will be. You'll impress everyone by starting with the plants and ending with the toast.
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