Beer and Gardening

For me there are few things more relaxing than sitting in a beautiful garden drinking an amazing beer; it's a peaceful piece of heaven. The floral scents of the blooms and foliage blend with the flowery esters of the yeasts and the sweet malts, a synergy that heightens each others' presence. It can be Eden.

As all beer drinkers know, beer has many rewards. Gardening is rewarding as well. Hard work and ingenuity, toiling with nature and soil, can lead to pastoral pleasure aplenty, even in an urban environment.

Not to mention rooftop gardens, Chicago's front yards have gone green, with hostas, vinca and a host of flowers and grasses taking the place of former scraggly lawns. No more mowing; no more mud. Back yards and fenced in areas are home to trellises and pergolas, allowing for climbing vines.

Missing amongst the pea blossoms, clematis, wild grapes, morning glories, moon flowers, cucumber and potato vines is an opportunity lost: hops.

Hops are prolific, ornamental, aromatic and easy to grow from rhizome. They may climb to up to 40 feet in a season, with large leaves. They create cones when fruiting, the stuff beer is made of. Though sun-loving (heliophilic), I have successfully grown hops in the shade; the key is to plant them in mounds of humus-lush soil.

If you are a homebrewer, not growing hops is a double dig; the cones are useful in the boil with your wort to add extra flavors to your beer. Popular and versatile varieties are Amarillo, Cascade, Hallertaur and Kent Goldings. [Note: I harvested the cones by variety and froze them for later use.] Of course, with your Belgian-styles don't forget to add your homegrown berries to your brews.

For the beer-lover, pop a hop cone in your Imperial IPA for an extra taste treat.

Gardening and beer can go hand in hand, just don't mix your brew with your riding lawn mower. Plus, gardening's a grand way to go green.