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During the mid 1800s NY was pretty much the hop-growing capital of the world. One of the barns below is our hop house, evidence that our own farm was involved in the boom.
I love reading about the renewed interest in hops in the region and hope they do become an important niche crop. I have long thought of buying a hop vine or two just for the heck of it, but I haven't done it yet.
I was thinking along those lines (hop history/brewing) when I saw you post a photo of your hop barn Sunday.
ReplyDeleteI recall seeing old sepia tinted photos of hop vines 12-20 feet tall from circa 1900 in the Mohawk Valley. (Utica/Rome?) Might have been at the Saranac Brewery in Utica.
I think Butternuts Brewery is scanning about for hops farmers to supply the soon-to-be-established Cobleskill brewery...
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't have to buy any hop vines, just walk along the Mohawk at Vischers Ferry, where they grow in tangled wild masses in the woods.
ReplyDeleteJoated, I find the whole thing so cool, especially the current resurgence of hop growing, as small breweries increase.
ReplyDeleteJune, I guess they are a bit hard to grow because of the blight and the need for them to climb on strings and poles, but I sure would like to try one just for the fun of it. I love to grow odd things.
WW, really? Wow, I think they are the coolest things. Had no idea they grow wild.
I think it's astonishingly labor-intensive work, but the Butternut guys are all into small farm operations and local sources. Seems like you'd be local enough for Cobleskill.
ReplyDeleteGuilty admission:
ReplyDeleteOuch. I don't think I've ever had an entire beer.
Now what's that all about?
Keith and Jody love it. . . . but! I do love the idea of it.
June, yeah, we are only half an hour away. I really have thought about it for several years, but that is as far as I've gone.
ReplyDeleteCathy, not a fan of beer myself although I will drink one now and then. Much prefer Lambrusco or peach brandy in a glass of milk.