Fuggles and fuggled to death....

[Subsonic]

As you all may know I've been hop picking. Bleeding nora. Since I asked the farm I have been inundated with, 'theres a hop here, a plant there... Back of the pumping station has masses...' First thing this morning I dropped a bottle of my bitter to the farmer since it was going to be a hot day and I figured he might like his shandy with my beer. Then tonight I went back to the farm shop and picked the ones behind his house. Got chatting to him, (hes in his late 70's but strong as an ox) and he knew all about the hops. Planted at the turn of the century (edit he said late 1890's - I think my phrase 'turn of the century was wrong' I failed history!) and dug up in 1932 because the money from them didn't pay the pickers. His mother did the returns that year and the family remembered it well as a bad year. He remembered sneaking to the other farms who persisted with hops and the visiting drying sheds to chat with the oast house men. Having his first taste of beer there cos they had a barrel as part payment for tending the oast (oast remains of which are in my back garden) Coals to heat the oast and pans of sulphur on top to kill the pests. Hessian sacks for the hops and the men carefully levelling the cones to keep them dry. Potatoes cooked in the embers were staple fare. So I offered to make a beer with his hops for the first farm shoot, I figured I knew the name but wasn't sure if they had cross bred. Well he said, they were planted late 18th Century (God is this right? he said 1890 so is that late 18th Century? so confusing lol) and they were supposed to be a good variety from from Paddock Wood down the road, Fuggles he said? but he wasn't sure if that would mean anything to me? Happy days!!!! Got home and spread my latest harvest on the ping pong table to dry, my hands all sticky with resin. Poured a pint and thought how lucky I was to just wander in and ask. Been a lovely afternoon with a bit of history thrown in. Subsonic.

[mysterio]

Great stuff Subsonic, hope you took some pictures, looking forward to brewing a proper Kentish bitter with them

[Jerry Cornelius]

What a charming story.

And you are sure a lucky bu**er!

The lanes around here are full of hops at the moment, but I haven't a clue what they are. There doesn't seem to be any history of brewing in the area, but a row of old houses is called the 'Malt House' so there probably is.

Had an idea to pick a few bines to decorate the garage (brewery) beams with - haven't bothered to do it yet, though

[Subsonic]

Jerry, why not go ahead an pick them? They will lose about 2/3rd's weight (if mine are anything to go by) but you only need a half carrier bag to do a good brew. Grain is cheap! Subsonic

[WishboneBrewery]

good story
Nice to hear things like this before its too late

[Jerry Cornelius]

I might just do that subsonic.

I could lay them out in the greenhouse to dry I suppose, seeing as I was to idle (or had a new interest in brewing) to plant anything this year!

[micmacmoc]

What an excellent story! I think it should be told in the manner of Jack Hargreaves in the Out of Town tv show, go on, grow a beard and take up the pipe, confound us by throwing an old brass and wood gizmo of days gone by on the table with a challenging 'you'll never guess what this was for'.
Its great to think that these hops have a history that many of us can't match and that theres still someone to tell the tale. Oh and to make and drink the ale. Top fellas!






Oh and 1890s would be the ninetenth century.

[Andy]

The hop garden down the road from me is being harvested currently, popped in tonight on a bike ride and wow, the aroma was intense! There was a machine in the works shed which was drying the hops I believe.

It's the last remaining Fuggles hop garden in Surrey.

[Danmet]

Fantastic story, great that the hops are being put to good use again

[ADDLED]

My neighbours got hops in her front garden (ooooh errrr! ) so I might ask if I can pick some. How do you process them for beer use?ADD

[Subsonic]

Pick em quick, they are probably spot on now. I just stuck mine in a thin layer on a tray in my polytunnel and they were done in a few days. Weight them when picked and then just leave to try somewhere turning occasionally (not too much and carefully). When they are nice and dry and probably lost 2/3rd weight they are done! Just bag, suck air out with staw twist and seal. Do this again and bung em in the freezer! Well, thats what I do and it works ok.

[Totem]

Sounds like a good idea, i take it you just have to guess about the %AA?

[Subsonic]

I just guess, judging from the resin and stuff they seem to be the same as shop bought ones if not better smelling. So my fuggles are 4% as far as I am concerned! Subsonic.

[SiHoltye]

If you use shop bought for the bittering addition you can be sure BU's are in the ballpark, then go crazy with your hops for flavour, aroma, and dry hopping

[chris_reboot]

lovely story subsonic, gives me pa larkin style images of you picking hops with a flagon in your hand!