THE STORY BEHIND AMERICAN HOPS

OVERVIEW

Did you know that hops, the flavoring agent found in beer, grows on a vine? And that it is a plant that can grow in this climate? American Hops (Humulus lupulus) is a global crop in temperate climes, mostly produced in North America, China, and Western Europe. This specific species isn’t actually originally from North America, but native to Eurasia. However, it is grown here commercially and has become naturalized. There are also native wild hops plants that grow in North America that have similar uses. Today, the Pacific Northwest is the top hops producing region in the USA and second to Germany worldwide.

The POP Learning Orchard has been experimenting with this plant on a small-scale and currently has a section of fence around the nursery dedicated to growing American Hops. This vigorous vine has an interesting history with humans, is easy to grow and has medicinal and culinary use, so it is a good candidate to add to the orchard (with the stipulation that it can spread).

HISTORY

American Hops (Humulus lupulus) has been developed from a wild hop plant originating as far back as the first century AD in Egypt, where it was likely used for salads. As far as we know, actual beer brewing with hops began in the 13th century in central Europe; this was its primary use in Europe, though it was also used as medicine. In North America, indigenous groups used the North American wild hops to flavor drinks and as a remedy for nausea, indigestion, and inflammation. Its use in brewing in the Americas wasn’t popularized until European colonization.

American Hops today is basically the hybridization of US native wild species, European varieties, and US-developed cultivars. This is the result of European colonists transporting desirable hop genotypes overseas into North America, which over time, cross pollinated with the native wild hops plants found in their surroundings that they also began cultivating. These European varieties, combined with local wild hops plants native to north America were what created American hops and the different varieties that are used today.

Prior to and during the import of European-derived hops, the local wild hops plants native to North America were used by Native Americans in various ways. They were used for medicine, beverages, food, textiles, and dye. Medicinally, hops were used for inducing sleep, bladder problems, anxiety, and fevers. The young shoots were incorporated in food (mostly salads). The fibers were used in textile arts and stalks were used for basket-weaving. Wax from the tendrils were used to produce a reddish-brown dye.

Beer brewing in North America began with the arrival of European settlers, though it is likely Native Americans were doing their own type of brewing. Although hops were initially imported from Europe, the early colonists started foraging and growing their own wild hops for beer brewing. Hop cultivation spread along the Eastern seaboard as new towns and communities provided support for hop production, with the first commercial crop in Massachusetts in 1791. The Puritans, as an example, were such successful hop producers that they could eventually ship excess hops to the Quakers in Philadelphia. The hop industry began booming in the 1850s which provided an abundance of job opportunities. Hop production began on the Pacific Coast and California around 1850. West coast growers had an agronomic advantage over their East coast growers because of the dry summers and mild winters, which allowed a significant crop within a year from planting, whereas it typically took 3 years to produce the first crop in the East. The hop industry there grew quickly in the 1870s, likely due to low harvests in Europe during that time. Today, the west coast is the primary location of commercial American Hops production.

DESCRIPTION

American Hops is a perennial, herbaceous vine can grow up to 30 feet long. The opposite leaves are palmate with 3 lobes (rarely with 5). These leaves have a rough texture and serrated margins and can be hairy. The stalks are also quite hairy and rough in texture. As an herbaceous vine, the stalks die back to the ground in winter and regrow in the spring. As is common with most vines, the plant spreads through rhizomes (runners) from the main plant. It can be propagated from those rhizomes or buried vines, which can form roots along its nodes. The male plants produce drooping panicles of male flowers. Female flowers are clustered at the tips of stalks with 10 to 50 pairs of flowers in a cluster. The female flower cones are what is harvested for beer.

It is diecious, meaning that individual plants are either male or female. In the brewing world, only females are planted because the female cone is used for beer; if a male is planted, the female cones will develop seeds which make the crop less desirable for brewing. The jury is out on whether the seeds actually change the flavor; one argument is the seeds might interfere with hop processors, which have the ability to crush the seeds and leach out the flavor. If growing hops for other reasons, both male and female can be planted, though the females will produce cones (without seeds) whether or not there is a male around. The means of pollination are the wind, though bees are attracted to the flowers and perhaps play a small role in pollination.

VARIETIES

The wide span of hop varieties available today is mostly used for both aroma and bittering in brewing. Many cultivars have been developed by US breeding programs and generally divided into two broad categories of aromatic and bittering hops. Here are the varieties currently planted at The Woodlands:

• Willamette: Released in 1967, Willamette is historically one of the most prevalent hops grown in the United States and continues to be the most widely grown aroma hop in the USA. Flavor wise, it features complex spiciness characterized by herbal, floral and fruity notes with a very mild bitterness.
• Centennial: Centennial was created in 1990 at Washington State University. It has become one of the most well-respected hop varieties that depth of bitterness and strong citrus and pine flavor. It is the featured hop in IPAs such as Founders Centennial IPA and Bells Two Hearted Ale.
• Nugget: Nugget was bred by the USDA in the early 1980’s. It has a strong bittering kick popular in IPAs and other hoppy brews. It also carries a woody and piney aroma.
• Crystal: Crystal hops are an American variety that was released by the USDA in 1993. It offers a light aroma of floral and cedar with some soothing spices in the background.
• Golding: Golding hops are the American descendant of the English variety East Kent Golding. It was first cultivated in British Columbia before making its way to the Pacific Northwest in the early 1990s. It has a citrusy, floral, and herbal aroma.

HABITAT

Hops grow best in moderate climates with rich, well-drained soil and full sun. They also require winter temperatures below 40 °F for one to two months. They are often found growing in floodplain forests, upland forests, shrub thickets, abandoned farmland, and along the roadside. This plant favors areas that are more disturbed, whether from human activities or natural causes. It likes to climb over surrounding vegetation, including shrubs and small trees, so be wary of this when planting it. Planting it along a fence, wall, or trellis is ideal. Additionally, it can spread quite rapidly via rhizomes, so planting it in a pot or far from other plants is advised. POP has its American Hops strategically planted along the tennis court fence away from the main orchard and pollinator gardens.

USES

Please read our full disclaimer at the end of the article before ingesting or otherwise using hops in any way.

Though we most often associate hops with beer, hops can be used in other ways. Regarding beer brewing, it is added to beers to add a specific and complex flavor profile. Additionally, it contains acids that have antibacterial properties, which prevent beer spoilage.

Hops are also used for culinary purposes, mostly to add flavor to food similar to beer. They can be used in marinades, infused into oil for salad dressing, and steeped into a tea as a sleep aid. The young shoots in the spring are edible and can be harvested like asparagus and added to meals, typically salads.

Hops can also be used medicinally to aid digestive issues, skin irritations, and mental health. As a medicine, it is available in many forms: dried herb, extracts, tinctures, beverages, tablets, capsules, creams, and gels. 

Hops can be used for different crafts and textile arts. Specifically, the stalks can be used for wicker-making and the fibers can be used for making fabrics and ropes. The cones can be used for garlands and wreaths. This multi-use plant has so much to offer!

SOURCES

Hops Slideshow

Minnesota Wildflowers: Hops

History of Hops

Uses of Hops

DISCLAIMER

The information presented on this website is for informational, reference, and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as a substitute for diagnosis and treatment by a health care professional. Always consult a healthcare professional or medical doctor when suffering from any health ailment, disease, illness, or injury, or before attempting any traditional or folk remedies. Keep all plants away from children. As with any natural product, they can be toxic if misused. 

The Philadelphia Orchard Project stresses that you should not consume parts of any wild edible plants, herbs, weeds, trees,​ or bushes until you have verified with your health professional that they are safe for you. As with any new foods that you wish to try, it is best to introduce them slowly into your diet in small amounts.

This POP Blog was written by Orchard Assistant Simone Shemshedini with help from Co-Executive Director Phil Forsyth.

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