The Ultimate Guide To Buying Green Hop Beer

Green hop beer is made from hops that are used in their freshly picked 'green' state. Hops are the essence of beer brewing, providing bitterness and a wide variety of flavours. Green hops must be used quickly after picking, and within 48 hours at most, otherwise, they lose their unique fresh flavour and moisture can cause mould. Hops can be purchased in-person from a local specialty beer brewing shop or online from sites such as Amazon.

Green hop beer brewing process

The green hop beer brewing process is a collaboration between the brewer and farmer to produce a unique-flavoured harvest beer. The process begins with the hop harvest, which usually takes place towards the end of August. The timing of the harvest is crucial for growers, as it can make or break their year. After harvesting, the hops must be used as quickly as possible, preferably within 48 hours, to preserve their unique fresh flavour and prevent mould.

To brew green hop beer, brewers work closely with farmers to obtain freshly harvested hops. In the case of Wadworth's Malt 'n' Hops beer, an employee is dispatched early in the morning to the farm to collect both freshly dried hops from the previous day and green hops freshly picked that morning. The hops are then added to the copper boil at a specific rate, taking into account the moisture content of the green hops.

The fresh green hops are typically added in two stages: a portion is added towards the end of the boil, while the rest are added to the hop back (hop tea) before wort addition. The specific quantity of hops added depends on the yield of the harvest, and the flavours can vary from year to year.

Green hops contain about 80% water, so a larger quantity is needed compared to dry hops. They can be added at any point during the brewing process, including the boil, whirlpool, dry hopping, or even in the mash. When adapting a recipe for wet hop brewing, brewers can savour the difference in flavour and aroma. Due to their low bitterness, green hops are often added towards the end of the boil or during the beer conditioning stage, primarily for aroma.

Overall, the green hop beer brewing process involves careful planning and coordination between brewer and farmer to ensure the timely collection and use of freshly harvested hops, resulting in a unique and flavourful beer.

Where to buy hops online

Hops are essential to brewing beer, providing both bitterness and flavour. There are many places to buy hops online, with a wide variety of options available. Here are some of the top websites to purchase hops online:

Northern Brewer

Northern Brewer offers a wide variety of hops, including domestic, imported, pellet hops, and whole leaf hops. They also provide resources for growing your own hop rhizomes. Their hops are pelletized for freshness and sealed in light-proof bags to ensure quality. Northern Brewer has an extensive collection of unique hops, with over 112 products available. They also offer video courses on brewing with hops, making it a great choice for beginners.

Hops Direct

Hops Direct is a family-owned business, with the Puterbaugh family growing hops in the Yakima Valley of Washington State since the 1930s. They offer a range of domestic and imported hop pellets, including popular varieties such as Amarillo and Belma. Hops Direct is proud to provide high-quality hops that are essential to brewing great-tasting beer.

Yakima Valley Hops

Yakima Valley Hops is a premium hop supplier, sourcing their products from the Yakima Valley and premium growing regions worldwide. They offer traditional pellets and innovative liquid hop products, providing the freedom and flexibility to craft without contracts. Yakima Valley Hops has the largest online hop portfolio, ensuring you can find all your favourite varieties and advanced hop products.

Hop Alliance

Hop Alliance is a premium wholesale spot hop supplier, developing relationships with growers, brokers, and breweries worldwide. They offer a vast network that allows them to source hops from all over the world, providing popular varieties at fair prices. With fast shipping and no contracts, Hop Alliance makes it easy to start brewing with fresh hops.

Amazon

Amazon is a well-known online retailer that offers a wide range of products, including hops for brewing beer. While it may not be specialised in brewing supplies, Amazon provides a convenient option for purchasing hops, with a large selection of reputable beer brewing equipment experts available.

Green hop beer availability

Green hop beer is a unique seasonal beverage that uses freshly picked hops to create a distinct flavour. The hops must be used within 48 hours of picking to preserve their fresh taste and prevent moulding. This short time frame makes green hop beer a challenging yet rewarding brew for enthusiasts.

Homebrewers can purchase hops online or in-person from specialty beer brewing shops. When buying in-person, it is advisable to ask fellow homebrewers for recommendations or search online for local suppliers. Online platforms, such as Amazon, offer a wide range of hops suitable for home brewing.

For those interested in the history of green hop beer, the Malt 'n' Hops brew, developed by Trevor Holmes and brewed at Wadworth since 1992, is worth noting. This beer uses freshly harvested Early Bird Goldings hops, both dried and wet hop cones, to create a unique flavour that varies from year to year.

Another notable example is the Green Hop Special Bitter, brewed using Cascade, Fuggles, and Target green hops. This beer was created through a collaboration between Bob Keaveney, who supplied the hops, and Stephen Osborn and Murray Mackay, who suggested the winning recipes in the Bromley CAMRA Branch "Green Hop Beer Competition."

Whether you are a homebrewer or a craft beer enthusiast, green hop beer offers a fascinating insight into the art of brewing and a delicious seasonal treat to savour.

Green hop beer history

Green hop beer, also known as harvest beer, is made with fresh hops, usually picked on the day of brewing. Hops are the cone-shaped flowers of the Humulus lupulus plant, which is cultivated for its bitter, sticky content – lupulin. This yellow pollen-like substance contains the hop's bitter aroma.

The history of green hop beer can be traced back to the development of hop-growing in the 16th century. In Europe, the centre of hop-growing was in the Czech Republic and Bavaria. Hops were originally grown in monasteries, but later they started to be grown in places that were optimal in terms of location, soil, and climate. The first mention of using hops for beer brewing on Slovenian territory dates back to around 1160 in an urbarium of a landowner from Škofja Loka.

The use of hops in beer brewing became more widespread in the 16th century when English brewers began to import dried Flemish hops. However, these early hops contained so much extraneous matter that an Act of Parliament was passed in 1603 to impose penalties on merchants and brewers who dealt in adulterated hops. Despite the initial reluctance to accept the bitter flavour that hops imparted, by the 17th century, bitter-flavoured beer had become the established drink in England.

The modern green hop beer movement can be traced back to Trevor Holmes, the former head brewer at Wadworth. In the 1990s, Holmes developed the idea of using fresh hops in beer after visiting a hop yard. The resulting beer, Malt 'n' Hops, was brewed with freshly harvested Early Bird Goldings hops, both dried on the previous day and wet hop cones picked on the day of brewing. This unique harvest beer was a collaboration between brewer and farmer, with the recipe depending on the hops that were available each year.

Green hop beer recipes

Green hop beer is made with hops that are used in their fresh, undried state, straight from the bine. They must be used as quickly as possible after picking, and within 48 hours at most, or they will lose their unique fresh flavour and the moisture in the hops can cause mould.

Green hops are typically added at the end of the boil or during the beer conditioning stage, mainly for aroma, as their comparative low bitterness means they are less effective for bittering.

Ingredients:

• 6.5 kg Pale Malt (Minch) 5 EBC (84.4 %)
• 0.75 kg Munich Malt (Bairds) 9.9 EBC (9.7 %)
• 0.375 kg Torrified Wheat (Crisp) 4 EBC (9.4%)
• 0.075 kg Black Malt (Crisp) 1300 EBC (0.9%)
• 75 g Cascade leaf hops (7.0% alpha)
• 500 g Cascade green hops (2.0% alpha)
• 1 Protafloc Tablet (Irish moss)
• 0.5 g Yeast nutrient
• 7.5 g Polyclar BrewBrite
• 500 g Cascade green hops (2% alpha)
• Yeast Slurry SO5 500 ml (387 billion yeast cells)
• 500mg potassium metabisulphite
• Brewing salts for a hoppy flavour profile: Ca=110, Mg=18, Na=16, Cl=50, SO4=275

Method:

• Mash thickness: 2.61 L/kg
• Starting grain temp: 18 °C
• Single infusion mash at 66C for 90 mins
• Raise to 76C mashout temperature and hold for 15 mins
• Fly sparge with 40.84 L water with 5.6-5.8 pH (measured at mash temperature). Collect 56.5 litres
• Boil for 75 minutes, adding Protafloc, etc., per schedule. Add hopstand hops at boil end
• Start chilling after 15 mins
• Cool the wort quickly to 20C and transfer to fermenter
• Pitch yeast and ferment at 20C (wort temperature)
• Package as desired

Tips:

• Green hops contain about 80% water, so you need to use more than you would when using dry hops. In general, four to eight times as much by weight.
• Fresh hops may be used at any point during the brewing process: boil addition, whirlpool addition, dry hoping, or even in the mash.
• Green hop beers are best consumed fresh.

Frequently asked questions