The practical application of scientific principles to the art of hop agriculture and brewing science
Jumping off of last week’s show with Mark we go much deeper into the photoperiod discussion and ask the question: while we all know that “light is good” for plants, why does no one ever talk about why “dark is good” too? Then we read some harvest statistics from the last year to try and […]
It’s the second part of our conversation with Mark from Mountain View Hops. This time we get much more technical with a photoperiod deep dive, some business expansion options and of course a round of Beer or No, Virginia style!
It’s a mixed bag of topics this week. First we’ll touch on some new market trends in beer packaging, specifically smaller cans for the alcohol- and calorie- conscious tasters out there. Then James removes his science filter and we get all down and dirty about biodynamics and sustainability. What does it really mean? Like […]
If you ever think to yourself “I’m so tired of hearing James and Gregg talk”, have we got a treat for you! This week we welcome Mark from Mountain View Hops, a small hop farm in Virginia. Mark is a great example of how to start small, look for the right opportunities and take it […]
Hop yards, just like any business, come with constant decisions to be made. Left or right? Up or down? This week we discuss pivot points as your business grows, shrinks and takes some left turns.
This week we get into cold storage and compression to keep your finished crop ready for sale. Also, more from Lithuania!
The right tool for the right job. This week we talk about everyday implements that you should have in your hopyard. Tools that change the way you approach farm management and make you ask “why didn’t we do this sooner”?
Ah, the beer festival. All of your potential customers are there at once and ready for you to hit them up for sales, right? So, so wrong. This week we share stories of past beer festivals, including how to make the most of them while keeping your expectations in check. Plus, listener questions!
This week we put down the farm implements and open up last month’s New Brewer publication from the Brewer’s Association. We pick apart the numbers around the growth and decline of various segments of the industry, changing consumer tastes, the overload of choices in the beer aisle and “misguided people who want their juicys”.
Tales from the hop yard as we walk through the when, how and why of harvesting. We talk about hand harvesting (here’s a hint: don’t), how to engage local artists in your waste material and why you should make friends with retired machinists.