Brewer's Gold

This is a sister seedling of Bullion Hop, and has a simular extraordinary vigour of growth. It is, however, sensitive to soil conditions and develops its full vigour only on a deep, well-drained soils of the brick-earth type. The aroma is of the 'American' type, but this is not so strongly developed as it is in Bullion Hop. In spite of its heavy yield and the richness of its cones, the acreagre of Brewer's Gold in the UK declined throughout the 1960s owed to its lateness in ripening and sensitivity. Since then however, popularity has increased as small micro-breweries favour the strong fragrences for richer flavours.

Availability

Plants in 2 litre pots are available from late May until September, for UK mainland delivery only due to transport implications. Bare root hops plants are available for wider distribution from November.

Growth Data

Time of ripening: Late season
Storage stability: Poor
Wilt tolerance: Susceptible
Resistance to downy mildew: Susceptible
Resistance to powdery mildew: Susceptible

• Also Known As
  Characteristics	Notes of spice and blackcurrant
  Purpose	Bittering
  Alpha Acid Composition	7.1%-11.3%
  Beta Acid Composition	3.3%-6.1%
  Co-Humulone Composition	3.3%-6.1%
  Country	UK
  Cone Size	Small
  Cone Density	Compact
  Seasonal Maturity	Late
  Yield Amount	1760-2400 kg/hectare (1570-2140 lbs/acre)
  Growth Rate	Very high
  Resistant to	Resistant to verticillium wilt, moderately resistant to downy mildew
  Susceptible to
  Storability	Retains 60%-70% alpha acid after 6 months storage at 20ºC (68ºF)
  East of Harvest	Easy
  Total Oil Composition	1.96 mL/100g
  Myrcene Oil Composition	66.7%
  Humulene Oil Composition	11.6%
  Caryophyllene Oil	6.5%
  Farnesene Oil	None
  Substitutes	Bullion, Cascade, Galena, Northern Brewer (US), Northdown
  Style Guide	Ale, American Pale Ale, Bitter, Barley Wine, Imperial Stout

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  Information Provided by thehopslist.com
  
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Planting Instructions

On receiving your plants remove the plants from the bag, check to see if they are moist, if they are not place in a bucket of water for 1 hour, then plant it in your garden.

1. Dig a hole 9 – 12 inches deep.
2. Place the plant in the hole with the crown of the plant, the bit with the shoots on, 2-3 inches below surface level.
3. Cover all the roots and crown with good quality well mulched soil, or John Innes No3 compost.
4. Firm in gently.
5. Sprinkle some general fertiliser around the surface.
6. Water in only if the soil is dry.
7. Plants should be spaced about a metre apart.

Hop Growing

Hops can grow on a wide range of soil types, although in general they grow best on deep well drained non-acid loam’s. Good soil moisture and fertility are essential in order to sustain the prodigious aerial growth of the hop plant each year. Bines usually begin to grow from the underground rootstock in early April. These healthy bines of appropriate vigour are selected for a procedure known as ‘training’ are induced to begin climbing the strings, which they do in a clockwise direction. When 2-3 bines are established on a string, all surplus shoots should be removed, usually completed by the end of May.

Support

Hop plants have to be provided with supports for the climbing bines on which the cone bearing lateral shoots are formed. Hops can be grown up strings, poles or on a fence with wire support. Fertility can be improved with farmyard manure or proprietary brands of general fertiliser such as growmore.

Disease and Pest Control

Hops are susceptible to mildews, aphids and red spider. These can be controlled with various garden sprays available from most Garden centres.

Harvesting

Pick the hops off the bines in early to mid September. Drying should take place immediately after harvesting, this can be achieved with very satisfactory results by placing the hop cones in an airing cupboard. Store in a dry place.  These can be used for brewing your own beer or Hop pillows (only a small amount put in your pillow will help you sleep). If required for floral decoration do not remove hops from bine, but cut the whole bine off in September and hang to dry in a warm airy place. Remove all leaves off bine before drying.

Pruning

In the Spring, select the number of shoots required, max 8 per plant, and remove all surplus. Remove all growth above ground any time between late Autumn / Winter.This will help reduce carry over of pests and diseases.