Adnams appeals for wild hops to make new beer

The recipe for the new beer - which is set to be an amber pale ale - requires hops that are freshly picked and that have skipped the drying process.

The Suffolk brewer is making a plea to members of the public to let them know if they have hops growing in their garden which they are willing to donate, or if they know where wild hops located. The collected hops will be frozen until the brewing date and will be mixed with a few tamed garden and commercially grown hops.

There is just one brew of the Wild Hop beer which will be in pubs in the autumn and available in bottle from Adnams Cellar & Kitchen Stores.

Unpredictable​

Fergus Fitzgerald, head brewer at Adnams, said: "We are very excited about this new beer as it is the first time that we’ve used wild and green hops. By sourcing hops in this way, there will be an unknown mix of varieties to work with and each is likely to be grown in varying soil types – which means it’s all slightly unpredictable, but that’s what makes it so interesting! 

"By concentrating heavily on the hop flavours, we will create a brew full of fresh grassy, citrus and pine flavours and aromas - a true taste of East Anglia. We have already spotted a few wild hops growing and have the landowners permission to pick them, but it would be great to get a few more. We’ve promised to give anyone who donates garden or wild hops, some of the finished beer as a thank you to for their foraging."

How to get involved​

Adnams is looking for hops picked early in September, before they start turning from green to brown. It is also important that the hops have only been sprayed with food-friendly pesticides or are organic.

The brewer is asking that growers and foragers pick the plant’s green cones, leaving the bine in tact so that the plant will regrow next year.

If you have hops on your land or have seen them growing in the hedgerows, please contact the Hop Spot Team at Adnams by emailing oryvaqn.wraavatf@nqanzf.pb.hx​ or tweeting @Adnams​.