2024 Hop Harvest Dates (2024)

FAQs

What month are hops harvested? ›

Depending on location, harvest occurs between mid-August and September. If these are first-year hops, expect a small harvest—most of the energy throughout the growing period is used to develop the root systems, making it difficult for cones to reach their peak yield.

A ripe cone will have yellow dust (lupulin) in the center and it should be pungently hoppy. Another way to tell is to snap a hop cone in half. If it breaks like a carrot would, you are ready to harvest. If it is still very spongy, then you need to wait.

Typical hop harvest time: mid- August through mid-September.

Willamette is a triploid seedling of the English Fuggle variety. It was released in 1971 immediately after USDA approval the same year. US hops begin to be harvested in mid-to-late August for most aroma varieties.

First year harvests will yield very little, so don't be disappointed if your plants are struggling to give you a bountiful harvest. You may only get a few handfuls your first season. Second year harvests will be fuller, and by the third year you'll probably be wondering what to do with all those hops!

Do hop bines need to be pruned? Hops only need pruning at/after harvest time and to prepare the plants for overwintering. You can also prune out weaker growth to leave room for stronger bines to flourish. Hops bines will die back in response to frost later in the season.

One common mistake in preparing hops for drying is washing them. This can introduce moisture and lead to mould growth during the drying process. It's also important to avoid overcrowding the drying trays, as this can prevent proper air circulation and lead to uneven drying.

Keep Hops Cold

In fact, keeping hops in the freezer prolongs their life by four times or more. And since hops are dried after picking and have high levels of oil, freezing won't damage them the way it does, say, fruit skins.

Look at Your Hop Cones.

As peak harvest season approaches, they will begin to appear a lighter yellow-green, and the bracts may begin to look as if they are “relaxing”, clinging less tightly to the cone.

Generally speaking, an unopened package of hop pellets that was properly flushed with nitrogen can last two to four years in refrigerated temperatures and up to five when frozen. Whole hops under the same conditions are less stable and will remain stable for six to 12 months.

What day do you dry hop? ›

Generally it is best to dry hop towards the tail end of your primary fermentation period. Visually you can gauge this as the frothy krausen (surface of the beer) begins to diminish, typically day 4-5 of your fermentation period.

“The longer you dry hop, the more you're getting those harsher compounds… [that] in too high amounts can have a negative impact on the beer.” Janish says about four days at higher temperatures is when you risk seeing that turn. Recently, studies have shown that a twenty-four-hour dry hop might be all you need.

Hops only need pruning at/after harvest time and to prepare the plants for overwintering. You can also prune out weaker growth to leave room for stronger bines to flourish. Hops bines will die back in response to frost later in the season.

We have multiple varieties that were chosen for their ability to grow well in our climate. Quantities are limited and will arrive in March/April. Plant in spring, after last frost. Hops are ready to harvest in late summer when they make a crunchy sound when squeezed.

Generally speaking, an unopened package of hop pellets that was properly flushed with nitrogen can last two to four years in refrigerated temperatures and up to five when frozen. Whole hops under the same conditions are less stable and will remain stable for six to 12 months.

Brewers visit farms and merchants for hop selection, choosing the hops they will brew with throughout the year. The first “killing frost” (frost which majorly reduces pests like aphids) in the fall signals the hops to go into dormancy.