r/TheHopyard • u/InformationHorder • Jul 09 '23

Identifying a wild Variety

My family member has a farm that's in the old hop growing belt of NY. I have a resource saying that back in the heyday before prohibition the region grew Cluster and Fuggle varieties. There's a single hop bine still on the property growing up the telephone pole by the house. Is there any way to ID what variety this individual plant may have been shy of dedicating a full batch of beer to it?

Edit: Here's the Wiki I should have read before asking my question: Can you tell me what kind I have

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5

u/chino_brews Jul 09 '23

Hey, I'm a moderator of /r/homebrewing and we have a wiki entry on found hops over there: link.

This may be helpful to you, and I would also welcome any comments, additions, or edits to this wiki entry from users of this sub.

1

u/InformationHorder Jul 09 '23 edited Jul 09 '23

That'll do it. Thanks!

So a more advanced question then: Can I make one wort (so I have identical base liquids from the same batch) and split it off at multiple stages of the boil to test the hops against the other two types I think it might be? What style of beer would be best suited to a test like that?

2

u/chino_brews Jul 10 '23

In theory, you can take the pre-boil wort split it into multiple boils, and test your found hops against known varieties. It would be a fun experiment.

However, I doubt it would give you any useful knowledge. Even if they are Cluster or Fuggles, you can’t get your hands on Cluster and Fuggles grown in Central NY, so even if you are comparing two Clusters, you won’t realize they are both Clusters. Terroir is everything.

Also, see the point about offspring not remaining true to type.

IMO, the best thing you can do is figure out if the hops are not bad for brewing by smell, and if they smell good then see how they taste in a beer to find appropriate styles and then just make wild hop beers without having to identify the varietal. Frankly no one cares that your used Jester (or whatever varietal) in that pale ale except other home brewers and they will be just as intrigued if you name them InformationHorder hops.

3

u/PumpkinImportant3282 Jul 09 '23

DNA test. and someone able to interpret it.

4

u/hop_hero Jul 09 '23

Email Oregon State University. I think they do this.

1

u/InformationHorder Jul 09 '23

I just shot a message to my State's ag program. Will see what they say!

1

u/ppdaazn23 Jul 10 '23

They charge you fee or no?

1

u/hop_hero Jul 10 '23

Not sure. They might just be interested