WHY SHOULD YOU GROW YOUR OWN HOPS?

Why would you, a home brewer, want to grow your own hops?

1 -  You control the freshness of your own homegrown hops.
       I usually harvest around 100 ounces of hops every year,  I am still using hops from the 2014 season, but I            never use hops more than 2 years old.  All of my hops are stored in vacuum packed freezer bags          in my freezer.

2 -  Pride,  you have the satisfaction of knowing you have grown your own hops.
      When sharing my home brew beer, I never fail to mention that the beer is brewed with my own           home grown hops. 

3 -  If you want to make organic homebrew, you can be 100% sure that your hops ARE organic.
      You never know the history of those store  bought hops.  What is their definition of organic?  It            may different from your definition of organic. 

4 -  You can make fresh hop ales in August and September every year.
      This is one of my favorite reasons for growing my own hops.  Every year, I make a fresh hop ale.       The last two years, I made Fresh Hops IPA's, this year, I made a Fresh Hop Pale Ale.

5 -  You can decrease the cost of brewing your own beer.
       Raising Hops takes a lot of labor, but if you use a lot of hops in your beer (IPA's) you can save            money by raising your own hops.

6 -  Less impact from Hop shortages.
      With the increased demand created by the fast growing craft beer breweries for certain hops,                some hops become very hard to find.  Check out The Hops Shortage of 2008.


I started growing my own hops in 2002 when my wife bought me two rhizomes.  One was a Tettnanger, the other was a Fuggles.   I only raised those 2 hops for about 4 years. Then over time, I increased the number of hops to 12 varieties and 25 hop plants.  Now that was over kill.

I now raise 8 varieties and 16 hop plants which yield about 300+ ounces of hops per year.  But I harvest only about 1/3 of those hops.  I raise the hops I need to make the kind of beer I like to drink. I use a lot of Cascade and Centennial hops which are easy to harvest, because they have many large cones that grow in large clumps. Picture of my Chinook Hops below.

I will not go into how to grow your own hops here,  you can get information from:
Growing Your Own Hops from More Beer

And to find other home brewers in the Boise area that grow their own hops, check out:
Idaho Hop Growers on Facebook

P.S.  I have non-brewer friends that raise ornamental hops for shade.  We use Sunbeam Hops on our back deck for shade.  And they really are beautiful. See photo below:

Edge Expands Distribution

It is been a couple of months since Head Brewer Kerry Thomas suffered her severe burns as she was brewing at Edge Brewing Company.  Kerry is recovering nicely, but it will probably be a couple of months before she can return to her job.

I was concerned that Edge Brewing might have to take step back from their plans to increase their sales through entering new markets.  Very happy to see they moving forward while Kerry convalesces.  

That is why I was thrilled to see the attached press release from Edge Brewery. 

The following is the official press release from Steve Koonce with the details.

Greetings!

Exciting news from Edge! We are expanding our distribution into the southern and eastern ends of Idaho with Watkins Distributing. This means our delicious draft and upcoming 22oz bombers will soon be available to our friends in Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Magic and Wood River valleys! 

Please read the attached press release and let me know if you have questions about anything at all.

Cheers!

Steve

Steve Koonce
Edge Brewing Company
Director of Sales and Marketing
steve@edgebrew.com
208-996-5639

EDGE PAIRS WITH WATKINS DISTRIBUTING

(September 4, 2015) Boise, ID – EDGE BREWING COMPANY and WATKINS DISTRIBUTING have combined forces to bring Edge’s traditionally brewed ales and lagers to the people of southern and eastern Idaho. Edge currently distributes in the Boise/McCall/Mountain Home area with Stein Beer.

Watkins Distributing will carry Edge’s full line-up of 22oz bottles that includes Obligatory Double IPA, Blackwater Imperial Stout, Odelay Vienna Lager, Onomato Pale Ale, Edge Amber Ale and a seasonal rotator release. The first seasonal release that Watkins will receive will be Edge’s Oktoberfest Marzen Lager. Watkins will start with a limited number of beers on draft from Edge that will include Obligatory Double IPA, Edge Amber Ale and Edge’s Apple Cider.

“EDGE couldn’t be happier to partner with Watkins Distributing,” said Edge Sales Director Steven Koonce. “Watkins represents everything Edge does in terms of being an Idaho based family business interested in bringing great beer to the people of this great state. We expect great things from Watkins in helping to build our brand and spread our delicious beer around the Gem State.”

EDGE will send its first shipment of beers to Watkins by the middle of September.

Watkins Distributing, celebrating 25 years of doing business in Idaho, is owned principally by Mitch and Tony Watkins. Watkins has distribution centers in Idaho Falls, Twin Falls and Coeur d’Alene.

Edge Brewing Company was founded in 2013 by Marcus and Sherry Bezuhly. Edge’s investors include many experienced and award winning home brewers. Edge’s true to style ales and lagers are available throughout the whole state of Idaho as well as in Eastern Oregon. For more information on Edge, please visit www.edgebrew.com. 

Berts Growler Garage in Ontario, Oregon

Although, not located in Idaho, Ontario is part of the Treasure Valley and also includes the Beer Valley Brewing Company owned and operated by Pete Ricks.

My wife and I had the opportunity to visit Berts on Friday, August, 21st.  We were very impressed with the 50's style decor.  With the checkerboard tiled floor and the old fashioned diner style stools and chairs, it has the charm of a time gone bye.  The Garage has 3 vintage vehicles inside and there is plenty of seating for large groups.

We got to meet the owner and operator, Michelle Bertalotto.  Michelle is knowledgeable about the local craft beer scene and seems to have a knack of finding those rare highly sought after beers.  Did I mention that they have food!  Good food, but I am here to talk about the beer.  Because Berts in in Oregon, they can offer beer that is not available in Idaho.

The picture below shows the beer that we took home Friday Night (We actually took home 6 bottles of Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA  plus 2 growlers of Barley Browns Beer in addition to those shown above).  Notice the variety of Dogfish Head Beer and the Pelican Mother of All Storms. Make sure to click on the photo see see the large version.

Michelle also had a case of the nostalgic Tim Batt's Snake River Brewery's Amber Lager on display.
Twelve bottles still full of beer in the case.

We highly recommend this venue.  Well worth the short trip to Ontario.

P.S. The reason we were at Berts was for a meeting with the Ontario based Malheur Mashers Homebrew Club.  If you live in the Ontario Area and you homebrew, join this club.  They had a great education presentation from Jack.  He raised 2-row barley malt to make his beer, so we learned how to raised the barley, harvest the barley and malt the barley.  Kudos to Jack for the in depth presentation.  Malheur Mashers Facebook Page.



You can find Berts on the internet:

• Berts Growler Garage - Facebook Page
• Berts Growler Garage - Website

IDAHO BREWERY COUNT FROM 1984 TO 2015

IDAHO BREWERY COUNT FROM 1984 TO 2015

Just a little summary and a chart showing the phenominal growth of the number of local breweries in the state of Idaho.  From Tim Batt's Snake River Brewing just west of Caldwell, Idaho to Powderhaus Brewing just west of County Line Brewing in Garden City, you can see how far we have come in a very short time.  Sixty Five Breweries have opened in the last 31 years and fifteen breweries have close in that time.

	OPENED	CLOSED	TOTAL
1984	1	0	1
1985	0	0	1
1986	0	0	1
1987	2	0	3
1988	1	0	4
1989	0	0	4
1990	0	0	4
1991	1	1	4
1992	0	0	4
1993	1	0	5
1994	2	0	7
1995	2	0	9
1996	3	0	12
1997	0	0	12
1998	1	2	11
1999	1	0	12
2000	0	0	12
2001	0	1	11
2002	1	0	12
2003	2	2	12
2004	0	0	12
2005	1	0	13
2006	1	0	14
2007	1	0	15
2008	4	0	19
2009	3	1	21
2010	2	2	21
2011	5	1	25
2012	7	1	31
2013	5	0	36
2014	11	3	44
2015	6	0	50
Totals	65	15	50

Click on the Chart
To see a larger version

Click here for the complete List of Idaho Breweries

WARFIELD DISTILLERY AND BREWERY OPENS IN KETCHUM

My wife was in Sun Valley for a Conference last week and brought me a Growler of IPA from The Sawtooth Brewery.  She mentioned that there was a new brewery in downtown Ketchum.  This one was not on my radar.  So after some on-line research, I discovered the Warfield Distillery and Brewery.  So I added to my Idaho List of Breweries at #47.

The Warfield Distillery and Brewery opened July 15th at 280 N. Main St. Ketchum, Idaho.
Alex Buck, Heidi Giordano and Jo and Ben Bradley are the owners of this new brewery plus distillery plus restaurant.   Bradley and Buck will be the brewers at Warfield.  Their “beer garden" will be on the roof of he older downtown building.

 According to an article in The Idaho Mountain Express: “The rooftop features some of the best Baldy views in town. It’ll have an enclosed bar and three fire pits, as well as a canvas awning. The owners plan to keep it—and the whole restaurant—open year round.”

I believe that this will be the first distillery/brewery in the state of Idaho.  The distillery part will lag behind the brewery opening due to additional red tape issues.  They plan to have a very limited selection of their own beer starting with Toothy Grin British Bitter and Short Pants Hefeweizen. It looks like they will brew the European beer styles in contrast to most Idaho Breweries.

Visit their webpage and Facebook page for more information about Idaho's newest brewery.

CHURCHKEY BEER COMING TO BOISE

Boise is fast becoming a Craft Beer Mecca in the mold of Bend, Oregon.  Unlike the rest of the country where Craft Beer Sales hover around 14% of the market, it is double that here in Southwest Idaho.  One of the big advantages of being a Craft Beer Mecca is that we attract great beer from around the country.  Breweries are taking notice and they are distributing their beer in Boise.

One of the most unusual of the new craft breweries that will be adding Boise to their market is Churchkey Beer Co.  Maybe you have heard of them, they are the guys the do not have a pull tab on their beer can.  Indeed, you have to use an old fashioned "churchkey".  For the younger generation, do a google search on churchkey to understand what I am talking about.  There is also one in the photo above.  In my younger days, all the guys carried a churchkey in the front pocket.  You used them to open cans And bottles.  I carried different device these days.....but it only opens bottles.

Anyway, but the subject at hand, here is a copy of the Churchkey Beer Co. press release:

THE STORY BEHIND CHURCHKEY BEER CO.

THE DREAM: A FLAT TOP BEER CAN

Why the flat top beer can? Why the hell not? We’re just a couple of guys who wanted to experience drinking beer straight from the original beer can. 

Over dinner in the summer of 2010, Adrian Grenier and Justin Hawkins both shared an interest in someday drinking a beer from an old flat top style beer can – to experience a great beer in a simple can as the generations before them had enjoyed. Wondering what it was really like, this conversation quickly lead to the realization that this type of can no longer existed. So the seed for Churchkey Beer Co. was planted. Through many meetings, beers and meetings with beers, the two founders brought in industry veterans to join the cause and get the flat top can just right.

Now, for the first time in nearly 50 years, we are able to introduce a great beer enjoyed straight from an original flat top can. Much like in the past, thoughtfulness and integrity mean 

something and should have a place. It’s why we find ourselves attracted to the artisans and craftsmen in our world. To us, it’s worth to putting a little extra effort back into our modern-day lifestyle. 

THE HOMEBREWERS: LUCAS & SEAN 

After perfecting the flat top can, our next step was to find the perfect recipe. Our Portland-based home brewers Lucas Jones and Sean Burke have been home brewing beer together in their garages for many years. They share these homemade brews with their friends at backyard BBQs and give them as gifts during the holidays. Lucas and Sean love this hobby, and are passionate about their beer and the community they cultivate with it. We are very excited to have these two all-American guys create the recipe for the Churchkey Pilsner. 

THE LIFESTYLE:  IT’S WORTH THE EFFORT

Resurrecting the flat top can may not make sense to some.  Why make it harder to get to your beer? Well, because to us anything great is worth the effort.  It’s why Churchkey Beer Co. celebrates the skill of craft brewers, artisans, makers and doers of every ilk.  

Whether it’s turning the wrench on your bike, building your own backyard smoker, growing your own garden or any other pursuit that requires a bit more effort, Churchkey is there to reward a job well done.  

Cheers!

ABOUT CHURCHKEY BEER CO. PILSNER

FLAT TOP CAN 

Back to simple times with simple tools that transform an interaction into an experience. For the first time in nearly 50 years, an often forgotten beer experience is available once again in the form of the original flat top beer can. Protected from both light and oxygen by highly recyclable aluminum, we make great beer in the most classic can because it’s worth the effort!

WHAT IS A CHURCHKEY?

The opener used to open a flat top beer can is called a churchkey for several reasons. The original openers used on bottles (before beer cans existed) looked similar to a large old fashion keys used by monks to not only open the church, but keep the precious beer they brewed safe. The name was then adopted to all tools used to open beer–with an ironic twist–for it is said if you used a churchkey opener (i.e. if you drank beer) you would be less likely to open the door of a church to attend service.

TASTE & INGREDIENTS

Churchkey Pilsner is a refreshing, crisp, Czech-style pilsner delivered in a flat top can using only high quality traditional pilsner malts grown in North America. Hopped with Nugget and Saaz hops to provide the classic pilsner finish that delivers thirst quenching satisfaction and a want for more. 

SPECIFICS

• Size: 12 oz cans & six-packs
• Packaging: Flat top can
• Flavor: Subtly hoppy
• Hops: Saaz and Nuggets
• Malts: Pilsner
• Yeast: Czech Pils
• Color: Golden
• ABV: 5.5%
• IBU: 29

Boise Brewery Boom Over!!!

BOISE BREWING BOOM OVER?

In the next few months, Powderhaus Brewing  and Barbarian Brewing will open to become the 16th and 17th Boise Area Breweries.  Both will join Payette Brewing, Haff Brewing, Crooked Fence Barrel House and the recently opened County Line Brewery in Garden City.  Also opening in Boise will be the 18th Boise Area Brewery: Clairvoyant Brewing .

On the Horizon:
1 - Black Bird Brewing
2 - Charters House Brewing,
3 - Summit Ridge Brewery
4 - Accomplice Brewing

The 4 Breweries listed above are still in the early planning stages and are probably one to two years away from opening.  I am not sure any of these will ever open. Over the last few years since the opening of Payette Brewing, Two or Three Breweries have opened every year.  Looks like the trend will end in 2016 unless the rumored secret Brewery from a prominate local craft beer icon opens in 2016.

The list did have 5 breweries, but Amagi Brewery dropped out.  Josh Paulson decided to go a different direction and start Amagi Mushrooms.  Good luck to Josh.

Back to the Breweries that ARE slated to open in the new few months:

Powderhaus Brewing :will  be Opening in 2015 at 9716 Chinden Blvd. Garden City. I have been watching the building progress with each trip to Boise.  Looks like a great floor plan and the only brewery in Boise to build from ground level.  The combination of Tyler, Tyson, and Tyler look to have a great chance of success.  I have been drinking Tyler Evens Beer for awhile now and he is a veteran brewer with a talent for brewing.  Tyler comes from Edge Brewing where he did many collaboration beers with Kerry Thomas.  

Keep checking their Facebook page to see their building progress.

Barbarian Brewing will  be Opening in 2015 at 5270 Chinden Blvd. Garden City.  Barbarian is founded and operated by husband and wife duo, James Long and Bre Hovley.  Head Brewer, James will create Belgian and European style Sour Ales, Imperial Ales, and a variety of other beers that will require two to eighteen months of aging time in oak barrels or stainless steel vessels.
I really like this concept.  They will be the only brewery in Boise that will barrel age a lot of the beer.

Keep checking their Facebook page to see their building progress.

Clairvoyant Brewing plan to open in 2015 at 2800 W. Idaho Street, Boise Idaho.  From their webpage: "There are three passionate brewers involved in the creation of Clairvoyant Brewing Company.  We are Ryan Kowalczyk, Mike Edmondson and Tim Carter.  We are creative brewers each with a different style of brewing. This unique amalgam of brewing will make for a fun, enjoyable, flavorful kaleidoscope of beers."

I should also mention County Line Brewery which open several months ago. They are located in the old Kilted Dragon location next the HomebrewStuff.  County Line is owned and operated by husband and wife Zack and Laura Kiehl. They have a very nice selection of beer including my favorite, Shade Tree IPA.

Keep checking their Facebook page to see their latest news.