Today's beer adventure...

Hominid · September 26, 2014, 02:36:31 PM

I wish!

jgiffin · August 23, 2015, 02:39:13 PM

Apropos of a beer adventure, or perhaps in preparation for one, I just picked a batch of hops from my backyard garden. Centennials. Drying them at a very, very low temperature (i.e., 90-95) now using a food dehydrator. Considered making one of those box-fan doo-dads but it sounded exhausting. Also have some Nuggets coming on first year plants but they won't be strong enough in number or lupulin to use.

TLDR? T-Minus 60 days until I can make a Lebowski-themed Imperial IPA with 100% homegrown hops!

Hominid · August 23, 2015, 10:28:50 PM

I'm jealous. I have 2 vines of 1st-year Cascade just now maturing; I'm debating when I should harvest them... any advice? Most of the cones are very fresh (i.e. moist; not drying out) and range from 1 to 1.5 inches long...

jgiffin · August 24, 2015, 12:48:18 AM

The longer you can wait, the better, Hominid. But don't plan on first-year hops being very strong or numerous. Pro brewers say lupulin levels double every year for the first three years. Focus on strong, sustained growth and a really hardy root system. If you keep them healthy, they will explode next year. You're only keeping 4-6 vines per plant, right? That focuses growth.

To your question, though, the cones are ready when they're dry, papery, somewhat brittle, and come off the vine easily. I pulled mine a bit early because of concerns over some suspicious growths at the bottom (downy mildew? I dunno). It's been super wet here this year. I'd have preferred to leave them be for another two or three weeks. But when I tear a cone in half, it is just plum full of the yellow powdery stuff you want to see - LUPULIN!

Hominid · August 24, 2015, 10:05:47 AM

Thankie J-man!

DigitalBuddha · August 24, 2015, 05:57:39 PM

So I was thinking that having a Brand of Dude Beer would be a righteous thing. Beer for the Slacking Lifestyle. Drink and Slack.

Hominid · August 24, 2015, 10:30:07 PM

Righteous idea DB... aptly called "Dude's Oat Soda" or something like that...

BikerDude · August 25, 2015, 10:35:16 AM

Slackenbrau

Hominid · August 25, 2015, 10:38:54 AM

Me likes.

DigitalBuddha · August 25, 2015, 07:01:53 PM

DigitalBuddha · August 25, 2015, 07:03:20 PM

Quote from: Hominid on August 24, 2015, 10:30:07 PM
Righteous idea DB... aptly called "Dude's Oat Soda" or something like that...

"Dude's Oat Soda" ...fuckin' eh!!

Hominid · August 25, 2015, 07:16:52 PM

I heard it once said that drinking beer is like pouring smiles all over your brain!

DigitalBuddha · August 25, 2015, 08:30:35 PM

Quote from: Hominid on August 25, 2015, 07:16:52 PM
I heard it once said that drinking beer is like pouring smiles all over your brain!

A very dude-like philosophy if you ask me!