What makes beer taste so good? It's the sweet malt combined with a mixture of different hops and herbs! Hops can be bitter, aromatic, or both ("dual purpose"). Hops grow from rhizomes you plant in the spring and shoot up, covering almost 25 feet by the end of summer. Talk about positive reinforcement for your planting effort!
Our hops rhizomes are female and will produce the flowers ("cones") used to brew beer. Before you harvest the flowers, you can enjoy their fragrance as they're draped around your backyard. That hoppy perfume in the air will give new meaning to the expression "beer garden." In our video, Tricia shows you the first steps in brewing beer.
Hemp Twine for Supporting Hops
Choose the Hops That Flavor Your Favorite Kind of Beer
Are you an India Pale Ale fan? Do you prefer Stout? Choose your hops based on the flavor profile you want to create in your homebrewed beer.
Narrow It Down by Your Climate & Growing Season
Hops are tolerant of a range of climates, but they do need consistent irrigation, especially in hot, dry summers. The Oregon Hops Commission explains that hops require at least 120 frost-free days and ample sunlight for optimal growth.
Give Your Hops Bine Something to Climb
Hops thrive when they have something to climb. While commonly called vines, hops plants are actually bines that grow by wrapping themselves around a support. Hemp twine is a great option for guiding the bines—it’s sturdy and biodegradable, making harvest easy.
Herbs From Your Garden Make Unusual Homebrews
Hops are just one of the herbs that can be used in making beer. If you'd like to branch out to other herbs, consider these options:
- Bittering Herbs: Horehound, Sage, Milk Thistle, Yarrow, Clary Sage
- Flavoring Herbs: Hyssop, Borage, Lemon Balm, Marjoram, Thyme
- Aromatic Herbs: Lavender, Chamomile, Bee Balm, Elder Flowers, Rosemary
More Information About Homebrewing & Hops
Grow organic hops and herbs, then create your own distinctive beer! Check out our Planting and Growing Guide for detailed cultivation instructions.
