Wild Hops

[Addled Jim]

I've been offered some wild hops, the guy knows nothing about them (they were there when he moved in) other than they made a kit beer he'd made taste better!
They haven't been picked yet; is it too late in the year now - if I was to collect a bag full as offered (providing its not too late) how should I proceed, how do I determine characteristics, if they are bittering, aroma or duel purpose? Do they need preparing before freezing?
I thought maybe make a SMASH of reduced brew length - a suck it and see approach?
Any advice appreciated,

[Subsonic]

Are they in Essex? I used to pick loads of Fuggles and Goldings in Gravesend and you are not far off. Chances are they are either old hop bines from an old hop farm - the bines seem to live forever (in which case old farmers may know the type) or a cross. Either way pick them all and dry them. My brewery wasn't called the 'HedgeHop brewery' for nothing. Pick as many as you can - you probably won't regret it. Try them without any other hop in small batches to get an idea of how they work as bittering or aroma. When I lived in the UK I had masses of hops including ones I grew from seeds. All were great hence the HedgeHop Brewery. Let me know how it goes, I may be up for a few if you want to barter! Sub

[Addled Jim]

Is it not too late in the season to pick them then?
Wont they oxidize if they are left to dry or have I misunderstood what I read previously?
Got to contact the chap - he said he'd pick me a carrier bag full!!

[boingy]

It's only too late when they are all brown. Get 'em picked and brew with some of them "wet" too. Assume undried ones are 4 or 5 times the weight of dried and that the %AA is just a few %. It's not a precise art. Just make some beer with 'em and let the brewing gods look after you.

[Addled Jim]

rather ironic , my latest box of goodies arrived today with loads of packets of hops!!
So how long would drying take - and what about oxidation or is that only once they have dried?

[Matt]

As a rough way of navigating the aa% steep 10g of them dried in a mug of boiling water, and do the same with 10g of bought hops and compare the bitterness in your two teas

[Addled Jim]

That sounds like an idea - have you tried that?
So how do I dry them properly - hang them up in a net bag or use a heat source?
Whats the story about oxidation, we are advised to store opened packs in the freezer?

[Subsonic]

I dry mine in a dark shed, your airing cupboard should do, lay them flat on an oven tray or summat similar. Once they go all crunchy they are done. If you don't have a vac packer stick em in a sandwich bag, poke a drinking straw in, hold the bag round the straw and suck all the air out, quickly whip out the straw while pinching the bag and tie it off. Its suprising how much of a vacuum you can get. Of course after I picked 8kg of hops I invested in a vac packer lol. Freeze them in 1 oz bags or whatever suits you.

[Matt]

That sounds like an idea - have you tried that?

Yup. I've got some wild hops and compared them to some fuggles this way - just a little less bitter so I'm calculating at 1% lower aa. It's not a pleasant taste tho, have a drink ready!

[boingy]

Related recent threads:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=61413

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=61907

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=57336