This summer is quickly succumbing to milder days filled with corn mazes, pumpkins, apples, jams and hay rides. This is the time of year for homebrewing and by extension time for us to really get going. Summer may already seem like a sweat filled memory but we cannot forget the fun that was had, our latest adventure took us to Southern RI to the Ocean State Hop Farm. Matt and Joel from Ocean State Hops were nice enough to host RIBS for a day of picking hops and drinking some local brews.
For those who are not familiar, it was the Ocean State Hops 2nd annual “Pick Your Own Weekend”. During this event guests are invited to come harvest their own hops. You pay per vine and the yield will vary, but is usually enough to satisfy any hopped up recipes. Now if you haven’t heard of Ocean State hops, its okay. They started in 2007 and are still small but growing fast. Since their start they have worked with Newport Storm and one of their first signature success was in the Newport Storm 11/11/11. Now they are a primary contributor to Newport Storm IPA, but also have bulk orders of hops available to home brewers and at the start of the season as well as offering rhizomes. Next season will bring new rhizomes and more hops, currently OSH is offering Cascade, Nugget, and Chinook. Even though the hop season may be over and we are settling in for the deep frosts and frozen hops of winter, there is some solace in the fact we came, we saw and we picked. Next year you may also want to do the same. Now on to the Cider…
Have a look at the pictures here.
