Posted: 10.18.2010

Corn and soybeans aren't the only crops that have had a good year.  Wisconsin's renewed hop industry is also experiencing good yields - and tremendous demand.

James Altwies, Director of Gorst Valley Hops in Mazomanie, says they're finding Wisconsin specialty brewers reaching out for Wisconsin hops for their brew.  An example is Furthermore brewing.  Furthermore is know for nontraditional beers, with its only deviation, a traditional India Pale Ale that focuses on using only hops that have been grown within 20 miles of Furthermore's hometown. To accomodate that goal - Gorst Valley Hops has worked to provide a selection of Nugget, Cascade and Mount Hood varieties.  They've also changed how they handle the crop to pelletize the product - making it easier for brew masters to handle.

"These hops were all grown in fields operated by either GVH or our charter growers in the area,"  says James Altwies, Director of Gorst Valley Hops.  "Some come from fairly young plants, so the flavors will change as they mature.  Don't expect next year's beer to taste exactly the same as this one."

Chris Staples from Furthermore brewing says, "We'll release this beer annually and expect it will evolve over time as the hops mature." Staples continues, "We're known for doing funky stuff, we wanted to serve up Gorst Valley's crop in the best way to assess the hops themselves.  We're not getting too crazy," he says, "We're just really trying to let the harvest shine through."

Between 1860-1870, Wisconsin led the nation in hop production.  In 1867, Wisconsin produced 11 million pounds of hops - 4 million of which were in Sauk county alone.  However, by the turn of the century - Wisconsin's hop production almost disappeared.

Furthermore Brewing began in 2006. 

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