Atlas Twp.-Hop on a growing industry this weekend from 1-5 p.m., June 28 at Top Hops Farm, 9530 Ridge Road.
Mark and Mel Trowbridge purchased 55 acres of farmland just south of Goodrich about seven years ago and four years ago Trowbridge Farms formed the hops yards of ‘Top Hops.?
‘We are just one of a growing number of farmers who are now trying to cultivate beer’s key flavoring ingredient,? said Mark Trowbridge. ‘The craft beer industry continues to grow each year and so do the number of those growing hops.?
On Sunday the farm will be open for a walk in the hopyard and a guided tour of the farm. Learn how hops are grown and harvested, how to produce premium hops, see demonstrations of homebrewing and hear a discussion of plant health and nutrition.
Currently, Top Hops Farms grows three varieties of hops? cascade, centennial and Chinook. Each type of hops will produce a different flavor of beer.
‘The past few winters have been pretty rough on our plants’there was a lot of winter kill, ? he added. ‘Still the yield continues to grow from about 420 pounds in 2013 to 6,000 pounds in 2014. We are expecting about 15,000 pounds later this year when the crop is ready to harvest.?
The local hops farm started with 120 plants, then expanded to 5,000 plants in 2013? spread between 400 22-foot-tall poles connected with steel cable from the tops, all on about five acres. The hops grow from a rhizome, which is essentially a piece of root purchased from a grower in the West Michigan city of Zeeland. The hops are actually flowers, from the plant humulus lupulus. Beer brewers are most concerned with the sticky yellow lupulin glands inside the flower.
‘There’s a real problem with downy mildew causing root-rot’due to Michigan’s high humidity,? he said. ‘That’s why the northwestern United States is such a great area to grow hops. One of our advantages here is the freshness of the product. The weather and climate produce a unique flavor in the hops. After harvest the hops are dried, pelletized and packaged, then frozen until they’re ready to use. However, some breweries use fresh or wet hops for a unique taste.?
While only about 10 percent of all beers come from small local brewers, Trowbridge is confident southeastern Michigan will produce a unique taste and be a part of the supply chain.
Locally, Topped Out, an American Pale Ale (APA) style beer brewed by 51 North Brewing Company in Lake Orion, is using Top Hops for their hops.