|
|
Hops
Nature Bulletin No. 476-A January 13, 1973
Forest Preserve District of Cook County
George W. Dunne, President
Roland F. Eisenbeis, Supt. of Conservation
HOPS
Hops have been used, for flavor, in the brewing of beer since the 6th
century B. C. in Egypt and probably long before that. By the 9th
century A. D. they were being cultivated in the Hallertau region of
southern Germany because beer, brewed in every well-operated
monastery, was more than a beverage; it was important as a food in
those days. In the 16th century hops were being cultivated in England
and they were brought here, to Virginia, in 1648.
The hop vine is a perennial plant native in Europe, western Asia, and
possibly England. It is peculiar. Its stems are hollow and angular but
not woody; and they are equipped with stout hooked hairs which enable
the vine to climb a pole or string to a height of 20 or 25 feet -- always in
a counterclockwise spiral (from left to right). Most climbing plants
spiral clockwise. Another peculiarity is that, like some of its close
relatives -- hemp, the mulberry and the osage orange trees -- the male
and female flowers are borne on separate plants.
If fertilized by pollen from a male, a female flower develops a small
seed enclosed in a cone of loose papery leaf-like scales. If not fertilized,
it bears the same kind and size of cone -- often 2 or more inches long --
but no seed. The cone is known as a "strobile". It is the scales that make
hops valuable for brewing various kinds of beer, ale, porter, malt
extract and some "soft" drinks. When mature, the outer surface of each
scale is covered with sticky yellow dust-like grains called "hop meal" or
"lupulin". These grains contain a volatile oil, a non-resinous bitter
substance, resin and tannin. The oil gives the strobile its distinctive
aroma. The other substances furnish the bitter flavor which, mild or
strong according to the type of beverage, is desired.
Practically all of the hop produced commercially in the United States
today, are grown on large "hop ranches" along the Pacific coast in
Oregon, northern California and Washington; also, recently, on
irrigated desert lands in Idaho. The plant requires a deep rich soil which
must be well-drained. It needs abundant moisture, an average
temperature of 60 F and freedom from strong winds during the
growing period, and lots of sunlight during the ripening period in
August. In fact, climate determines the variety of hops that can be
successfully grown in any region, and also the quality of the fruit
produced.
Hops are grown from cuttings, not from seed. The cuttings, called
"setts", are taken from the bottom portion of last year's "bines" -- an
unfamiliar word which means "the twining stem of the hop". A variant
of "bind", it also occurs in "woodbine". After a year in nursery beds,
the "setts" are planted 6 or 7 feet apart in long straight rows which are
also 6 or 7 feet apart. They don't grow very tall the first year but attain
their full height the second year and climb on tall poles or on stout
strings supported by an overhead system of wires.
In Europe, the ripe hops are picked by hand. In this country they are
picked mostly by machines that travel between the rows day and night,
rain or shine. From the field they go to kilns ("roast houses" in England)
to be dried. The drying temperature determines the value of the hops --
it must not exceed 110 F and should be less. A new process, using
blowers to circulate air at outdoor temperature, produces the highest
quality hops, because none of the oils and resins are lost. After drying
the hops are compressed in bales for shipment.
One Chicago brewery uses mostly Idaho hops but adds some imported
from Germany. Other breweries in Chicago and Milwaukee get most of
their hops from Oregon, California and Idaho -- in that order. It all
depends upon the brewmaster and a secret formula handed down by his
grandfather.
To return to the Nature Bulletins Click Here! |
|
Update: June 2012
|
|
