Homegrown hops turn into local brew
15.09.11
Before Distinction Clark planted hops, the neighbors on the hillside
behind his Billings territory had a clear view into his backyard.
Clark trained his first hop vines to mature as a privacy screen
along his back fence. Before long, the fence turned into an arbor.
When the plants outgrew the arbor, Clark added aluminum poles and
marker wires to support the vines.
By September, the vines loomed over the alley like grassy shaggy
beasts. More plants grow along his garage and the roof of his back
porch.
“Between May 1st and June 1st they’ll increase in interest 6 or 8 inches a day,”
Clark said.
Last weekend, he chopped down the towering vines. But the pickup
load of plants won’t go to waste. Hops are one of four key
ingredients in beer. It gives the suds a tangy, stinging flavor.
India Pale Ales, or IPA, are one highly hopped make of
microbrew.
On Thursday, Mike Uhrich of Carter’s Brewing will use Clark’s
brand-new hops to add a distinctive aroma to an ale he calls Mark
Clark’s annual untested hops harvest ale. Carter describes the annual
infuse as an American-style pale ale, a light pale ale with a modern
floral aroma showcasing the fresh hops.
Source: Billings Gazette