Harvesting and using hops

[paulomac85]

Hi,

Last year I bought two cascade hop rhizomes. They have been growing all summer and from reading up on the internet they are ready to harvest now (I am from the UK).

I use beer kits and usually boil up a load of freeze dried hops in water to create a hop 'stock' then incorporate this into the wort when adding water,beer enhancer etc. to the malt extract. Can I boil freshly picked hops in a similar way? If so, how much do I need?

Secondly if I were to pick them is there a good way to dry them out in late Sept in the UK (its started getting a bit cold and we have no real 'warm' places for drying out). Can you dry them in the oven on a low heat? I heard also about wrapping them in newspaper then stapling the sides together to create a newspaper 'wallet' around them?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!#

Cheers

Paul

[Matt]

I heard also about wrapping them in newspaper then stapling the sides together to create a newspaper 'wallet' around them

I've been drying hops this way - just laid on a slatted shelf in the airing cupboard for 5-7 days until they feel bone dry. Seems to work fine, although SWMBO grumbles about the bedlinen whiffing of hops! Er, tough t!ts

Matt

[bigchris]

I've just this week picked mine, a little late perhaps due to work/travel.

I use a mesh laundry bag (from SWMBO), put the hops in there, 1Kg fits just about right, and lay them flat on the shelf in the airing cupboard for 2 or 3 days. Works a treat.

Like this one:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Large-White-W ... 1003076545

[bob3000]

I dried mine in the attic. Not very warm but it is dry.

[seymour]

Of, if you can easily remove a window screen or two, they make great drying shelves. Just spread the hops out, not too deep. Place anywhere with some dry air circulating, and rake them around by hand every once in awhile until done.

[Naich]

What about drying them using a microwave? Like this - http://www.themadfermentationist.com/20 ... owave.html

[paulomac85]

Thanks for all the responses, I have picked a load of the hops, brewed a batch straight up but got a load left. I've heard you can vacuum pack once dried? Do you need a machine do this?