Brian Cofresi of River City Brewing Company was looking to unload his mash when he decided to put an ad in Craig's List.
Scott Jordan of Jordan Family Farms, http://www.jordanfamilyfarms.com/, responded to the offer. Scott was looking for natural, inexpensive ways to augment the soil on his farm.
Brian and Scott struck up a friendship over the year. Last year Brian presented an offer to Scott. With the hop situation the way it is, how practical would it be to start a hop yard?
It was a large venture for Scott. Scott was up for the call.
Hop growing is not new to the Gold Country region. I recall the expansive hop yards by the Sloughhouse area of HWY 16. At the time I was a teenager and had no clue what hops were. I just recall how impressive the fields were. The city of Sacramento had its own hop yard back in the early 1900's.
This year was the first crop to be picked from the Jordan Family Farms. Accounted for on the farm to hand pick the sustainable hops for their beer was
Brian Ford of Auburn Ale House, http://www.auburnalehouse.com/,
Brian Cofresi of River City Brewing Company. http://www.rivercitybrew.net/
and Steve Maylor of Placerville Brewing Company, http://www.placervillebrewing.com/.
Many other beer geeks were on hand. A hop head, a home brewer, the guys from Pacific Brew News, and Rick Sellers of Draft magazine.Every one had a good time and I couldn't help but contemplate how the culture of hop farming helped bring together people and communities much like this event did. To be sure next year there will be more hops to be picked and more helping hands to make the job an easy one.
As for myself, am looking forward to the beers that will be available mid September. River City Brewing Company will have a Harvest Ale out Sept 19. It's not to be missed if you love hops.
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