hops for cool places

berryman · April 16, 2016

I have a dozen or so hop vines of different types. The most vigorous is Chinook. Last year one of them grew 18' high and pulled down the arbor I built for it. If you leave stuff around it will be assimilated!
Here's a picture of it a few days ago.

NewWestGardener · April 18, 2016

Are hops used for anything else other than making beer?

berryman · April 18, 2016

new west,
many herbal uses including a great sedative--people used to sow up the dried flowers in a pillow case. I used to make a strong tea of the fresh flowers with honey and it was like taking a vallium. Too old for that now.

It will also make you a little loopy when you pick them. The active ingredients go right thru your skin and into your nerves after awhile and you start feeling like a "hop head".
I've also used it in mead (honey wine) and the old fashioned name for that beverage is braggot.

It is a super hardy and attractive vine, so even if you don't pick and use the flowers it is pretty cool to have around.

April 18, 2016	#2
NewWestGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 564	Are hops used for anything else other than making beer?

April 18, 2016	#3
berryman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: central utah Posts: 233	new west, many herbal uses including a great sedative--people used to sow up the dried flowers in a pillow case. I used to make a strong tea of the fresh flowers with honey and it was like taking a vallium. Too old for that now. It will also make you a little loopy when you pick them. The active ingredients go right thru your skin and into your nerves after awhile and you start feeling like a "hop head". I've also used it in mead (honey wine) and the old fashioned name for that beverage is braggot. It is a super hardy and attractive vine, so even if you don't pick and use the flowers it is pretty cool to have around.