Humulus lupulus

Hops

Hops are seed cones from the Humulus lupulus plant, which is part of the hemp family (Cannabaceae). Hops are native to Europe, Asia, and North America, and today are cultivated primarily in the United States, Germany, and England. Most people know that hops are widely used to make beer, giving it a characteristic aroma and bitter flavour, but not many know hops are also used to preserve beer. Hops flower essential oil is used in perfumes, cereals, beverages, and tobacco.

Health Benefits

The Cherokee have long known that hops cause drowsiness. Historically, they used hops as a sedative and an analgesic. Traditional Chinese medicine also uses hops to treat insomnia, restlessness, indigestion, intestinal cramps, and lack of appetite.

Hops can regulate and balance hormonal activity so may have effects on hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, or endometriosis. Their bitter properties have appetite-stimulating effects shown to be helpful in treating anorexia.

Because hops sedate gently without narcotic side effects, they are a safer and milder alternative to addictive sedatives. By soothing the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract, hops relax the “second brain” or the enteric nervous system. That, in turn, relaxes the central nervous system.

Hops are known to cause “man boobs” because of their estrogen-like compounds. Female hop pickers can even experience interruptions in menstruation due to the constant contact with the plant.

DIFFICULTY

Medium

HARDINESS

Perennial in zones 3 and above

TIME TO PLANT

Spring or late summer

TIME TO HARVEST

Late summer to fall

LOCATION

Full sun

SOIL TYPE

Well-drained, slightly acidic

Growing

Hops have been gaining popularity with home gardeners and beer lovers. If you lack time and space, however, hops aren’t for you! The hops plant is an aggressive vine that can easily reach over 5 metres (16 feet) and requires time-consuming pruning and staking. The vine will die in winter, but the rhizomes (roots) survive, so hops grow on new wood every year.

Common Varieties: Beer lovers may recommend some of these popular varieties: ‘Cascade’, ‘Centennial’, ‘Willmette’, ‘Chinook’, ‘Amarillo’, ‘Golding’, or ‘Saaz’.

PLANT

Hops are grown from rhizomes, which are a type of root (technically an underground stem) that will be familiar to anyone who has seen a piece of gingerroot. Hop rhizomes are available online or at select garden centres and some craft brewers. Purchase them in early spring and plant them when the soil is workable and after the risk of hard frost.

For great results, plant rhizomes in rich, well-drained, and slightly acidic soil (pH 6.5 to 7.5). Remember, hops grow quickly and will require heavy staking. You need a lot of space, and you don’t want to shade out surrounding plants.

Hops generally do best when planted in direct sun with the soil mounded in rows. The rhizomes don’t require much depth; they should be planted approximately 5 cm (2 inches) deep with the eyes facing up, spaced 0.5 to 1 metre (1 ½ to 3 feet) apart. Water deeply immediately after planting. If you’re planting more than one variety, leave some distance between them—they will mix with each other! Build and install stakes shortly after planting or while the plant is dormant to minimize root disturbance.

I can’t stress this enough: You need to build proper stakes for hops. Build them big and build them strong! I recommend even using steel rebar. Just one vine can yield up to 1 kg (2.2 lb) of hops: That adds up to a lot of weight over the entire plant, and when they’re wet they weigh even more.

GROW

Hops require patience: You won’t see good yields in the first few seasons. Once the plants mature, prune half the new vines that first appear in early spring (always prune the weakest vines and leave the thick ones). This will put more energy into the rhizome, and the more energy, the more hops! Prune again when vines measure 30 cm (12 inches) during the growing season. To minimize disease and insect infestation, remove the lower sections of growth and foliage. Tie vines during the growing season.

Dried hops.

Hops benefit from mulch, which reduces competition from weeds and maintains moisture. Hops should be watered often; never allow them to experience periods of drought.

When planted in soils rich in organic matter (compost or manure), hops will not require fertilizer. In poor soils use compost teas (page 175), organic fish emulsion, or a general-purpose water-soluble fertilizer (20-20-20).

To minimize mould, avoid overhead watering, increase airflow around plants (do not overplant), and water in the morning so foliage dries quickly. Tilling the soil surrounding hops in early spring can kill overwintering spores.

Monitor the plants often for aphids and spider mites and treat by applying insecticidal soaps, or attract or purchase ladybugs to eat the aphids!

HARVEST

Hops are ready to harvest when their aroma is strongest: Crush a cone and take a sniff. Late in summer, the cone will develop a dry, almost papery feel. Some browning of the lower sections is a good sign of ripeness. As they ripen you will also notice the cones become softer to squeeze, compared with the green, hard appearance and feel they have when young.

Be careful: Your greatest hop yields will be on vines closest to the sun. You could use an extension ladder to get to them, but that’s an accident waiting to happen. Untie the vines and bring them to you instead of you going to them!

STORE

Hops can be used fresh, but it’s best to dry them in a dehydrator or oven, or on drying trays in the direct sun. Sun-drying takes a few days, so make sure rain isn’t in the forecast. How do you know when they’re dry? The stems will break instead of bending. Once they’re dry, store hops in airtight containers out of direct light.

If you don’t have enough hops to fill a pillowcase, you can make a small sachet to slip inside your normal pillowcase. Here we’ve added lavender for an extra-soothing scent.

Put It to Work

Counting sheep? Do it over a hop pillow!

When “Mad” King George III suffered from insomnia, his prime minister, Henry Addington, recommended he sleep on a pillow filled with hops. It worked! And it has worked for countless other kings and paupers since. If you have a problem falling asleep at night, this remedy may work for you, too!

Harvest the hops in the fall when they begin to feel slightly papery and are turning amber. At this point they are producing a bitter resin called lupulin, which imparts most of the medicinal virtues of the plant. Pick enough to fill a plastic shopping bag and dry them in the sun. Fill a pillowcase with the dried hops and sew the end closed. Place this inside the case of your regular pillow so you actively breathe in the magical sleep charm overnight. (If sleeping right on top of the crunchy hops isn’t to your liking, flip the pillow over so that they are on the bottom. You’ll still get a good dose of the active sedative.)

Hops tend to lose their potency in 45 to 90 days, so for maximum effectiveness you’ll want to refill the pillowcase before the end of 3 months. For most people the pillow will be enough, but if not, try a teaspoon of hops tincture (see below) just before you lie down.

Difficulty falling asleep?

Try this hops primer!

If you have ever felt relaxed after having a beer, it wasn’t just the alcohol. It’s all in the hops! This tincture can deliver a far more potent effect, but without the calories and with a fraction of the alcohol.

Tightly pack about 15 to 20 hops into a resealable glass jar (like a Mason jar) and fill to the top with vodka (at least 80 proof). Place wax paper over the jar and then screw the lid on tightly to seal it. Shake the jar well. Set aside in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks, shaking the jar vigorously every day or two.

After 2 weeks, using a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth, strain the liquid into a sterile, preferably dark-coloured, glass jar with a tight-fitting lid (discard solids).

Take 1 tablespoon with an ounce of lukewarm water 20 minutes before bed. The tincture will keep indefinitely stored in a cool, dark place.

Fast Forward

Fast forward to the health food store to purchase Metagenics Kaprex tablets or equivalent. Follow the instructions on the label.

Cautions

Hops are a very safe remedy. Just use caution and don’t consume before driving or operating heavy machinery, as drowsiness is likely. Some people report an allergic skin rash after handling the dried flowers; this is most likely due to a pollen sensitivity.

Don’t take hops or use the hops pillow if you suffer from depression.

Hops have a mild influence on estrogen and can cause menstrual irregularities.