On the 3rd September this year we finally started up the picking machine and fired up the kilns, a little later than previous years, but we can only start picking when the time is right. With the tractors dusted off ready and seasonal workers arriving we couldn’t wait to get stuck in.
Our apologies for the lack of blogging lately, but the small mater of the harvest got in the way!!
What makes an award winning hop? Is it the terroir? The climate and conditions in which the hop is grown in, or is it the people whose hard work year on year make sure the hops are protected from pests and disease?
Whatever it is it’s nice to know you’re doing it right, and what better way to celebrate this achievement than with an awards ceremony, just like the Oscars. Continue reading “The Institute of brewing and distilling British Hop competition 2017”
Thanks to the explosion of craft brewing, it’s no wonder the international hop association has crowned hops Herb of the Year! Holding off such heavyweights as rosemary, fennel and who could forget oregano, to claim the highest of accolades that could ever be given to a herb. Continue reading “When is a hop not a hop?..When it’s a herb!”
With January slowly dragging its feet, spring seems further away than ever so we thought everybody needs a little cheering up. Continue reading “Life on Mars”
Since spring last year we have been busy on the farm getting the new hop garden (‘Walters’) named after Ross’ Grandfather, ready for the 2018 season. Continue reading “New Hop Garden”
With the Christmas break behind us and the new year celebrated, we can now start looking towards the 2018 harvest. With vital repairs to the gardens and soil treatment carried out the next stage is Stringing.
As the festive season is soon approaching I find it imperative that the fridge is stocked with beer. Continue reading “Kent, not just a great place to grow hops”
We had a fantastic evening helping The Five Points Brewing Company celebrate the release of their bullion green hopped beer, hosted by Alex at the wonderful new Fuggles Beer Cafe in Tonbridge. Continue reading “The Five Points Brewery @ Fuggles Beer Café”
With the harvest soon approaching there is one employee that has been hard at work every day for the past 55 years, never had a day off, always on time and never seems to grumble. Some days he may have to stop for a breather without warning and it does take some time to coax him back into action, but when he’s up and running its full steam ahead. Introducing the picking machine, 5 tons of pure hop picking steel. Continue reading “Harvest is coming…”
