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Lost hops varieties found by Adelaide Hills farmer could give rise to a new type of lager
Source: ABC News Australia
Date: 24 January, 2020
After finding two wild varieties of hops in the Adelaide Hills, grower Stuart Binnion thinks he has discovered why they are growing in the bush.
Key points:
Hops are traditionally used in beer brewing and the booming craft beer industry means there is renewed interest in vintage varietals
It is believed that the plants may have been grown and used by bakers to keep their yeast mother healthy in the days before widespread refrigeration and powdered yeast
This is the theory one hops grower has formulated as to why two different hops species were found by him growing wild in the Adelaide Hills
"We started doing a bit more research into why there would be wild hops growing up through that creek there," Mr Binnion said.
"The theory we've come up with is, prior to the 1950s when the US military came up with powdered yeast, we reckon some of the bakeries up here must have been growing hops to help preserve their yeast mother."
Those bakeries are now long gone, but the hops plants that took root in the Adelaide Hills are still growing and have now been discovered.
Hops are traditionally used in brewing beer to add flavour and bitterness, but the plant also contains antimicrobial properties.
Mr Binnion said he believes hops cones were used to keep the yeast mother healthy before commercial refrigeration was widespread in Australia.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2...could-give-rise-to-new-type-of-lager/11884948
Source: ABC News Australia
Date: 24 January, 2020
After finding two wild varieties of hops in the Adelaide Hills, grower Stuart Binnion thinks he has discovered why they are growing in the bush.
Key points:
Hops are traditionally used in beer brewing and the booming craft beer industry means there is renewed interest in vintage varietals
It is believed that the plants may have been grown and used by bakers to keep their yeast mother healthy in the days before widespread refrigeration and powdered yeast
This is the theory one hops grower has formulated as to why two different hops species were found by him growing wild in the Adelaide Hills
"We started doing a bit more research into why there would be wild hops growing up through that creek there," Mr Binnion said.
"The theory we've come up with is, prior to the 1950s when the US military came up with powdered yeast, we reckon some of the bakeries up here must have been growing hops to help preserve their yeast mother."
Those bakeries are now long gone, but the hops plants that took root in the Adelaide Hills are still growing and have now been discovered.
Hops are traditionally used in brewing beer to add flavour and bitterness, but the plant also contains antimicrobial properties.
Mr Binnion said he believes hops cones were used to keep the yeast mother healthy before commercial refrigeration was widespread in Australia.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2...could-give-rise-to-new-type-of-lager/11884948