Comments on Pencil and Spoon: Top of the Hops in 2012

hear hear, would certainly like to try some of the...

2011-12-21T11:05:24.112Z

hear hear, would certainly like to try some of these!

Wye Hops grow experimental crops of something like...

2011-12-21T11:03:40.907Z

Wye Hops grow experimental crops of something like 4000 varieties each season. The English climate is perfectly capable of growing hops with similar qualities to those produced in the New World and US - it is simply that, traditionally, the home market has chosen not to adopt the more citrusy type of hop. Kent Brewery is committed to encouraging the growth and use of these crops as an alternative to the imported varieties. The development of these alternatives will bring considerable benefits to the UK: the local economy, especially hard-pressed farmers who struggle to produce competitive produce; Brewers, who are subject to the vagaries of the import market and international hop-growers; and of course the UK consumers, who will benefit from a potentially endless supply of beers with new and exciting tastes. The US and New Zealand especially have shown the potential for hops to a burgeoning craft beer audience, it is now up to the UK to show that we can produce hops that can compete with the best of them.

Trends in anything mostly come around because it&#...

2011-12-21T10:06:49.716Z

Trends in anything mostly come around because it's something new; so as we deal with raw ingredients, there will always be trends happening. If the introduction of New World and US varieties makes us think of what's close to home in new ways, then I'm all for it -and that's good for the scene. I definately sensed a move towards using (and being proud of ) UK hops in the latter part of the year. My personal epiphany was Durham's Something Blue (Royal Wedding Beer) - it was a 10% Fuggles IPA and it was *stunning*....I'll try and track down this 2012 - although I doubt I'll be able to tell what's in it!!

Kavey - make sure you have a big support for it - ...

2011-12-21T09:56:47.649Z

Kavey - make sure you have a big support for it - they grow to enormous sizes very quickly unless you go for a dwarf variety like First Gold, which is shorter and bushier.

Steve - They are all being grown in Kent at Wye Ho...

2011-12-21T09:32:25.863Z

Steve - They are all being grown in Kent at Wye Hops.

pdtnc - I've had some amazing beers made with Fuggles. They need to be drunk fresh though to get the flavour, otherwise it seems to fall inside the beer quickly. Target is a great hop - I have a mental taste of Thornbridge's Halcyon in my head with that one!

Kavey - There are a few places you could try - Charles Faram and Wye Hops. Or you can probably by rhizomes online. Or see the link below your comment.

David - Nice, cheers! I might try and grow some up outside my flat this year...

Martyn - Is that a challenge?!

If there are an average of - what is it - five hop...

2011-12-21T03:35:12.506Z

If there are an average of - what is it - five hops per pint of beer(? - someone correct me if I'm wrong), you'd have to drink more than 400 pints of Top of the Hops just to have an even chance of tasting every one of the 2012 varieties.

These chaps sell hop setts: http://www.essentially...

2011-12-20T23:29:21.729Z

These chaps sell hop setts: http://www.essentiallyhops.co.uk/acatalog/Hops.html

Could you have a word with certain breweries here ...

2011-12-20T22:54:44.450Z

Could you have a word with certain breweries here in the North West?

We want to grow our own, very small scale, on our ...

2011-12-20T22:49:10.383Z

We want to grow our own, very small scale, on our allotment next year... if you have any contacts we could talk to about British varieties, and of course, sourcing some, please drop me a line? Thank you ever so much!
Kavey

Lets hope for the best that we get something Briti...

2011-12-20T21:42:29.953Z

Lets hope for the best that we get something British grown that is better than my fav, Challenger.

no idea there were so many...where are they puttin...

2011-12-20T21:33:54.885Z

no idea there were so many...where are they putting them all and how did you find out?