Hops are a high value crop, and grow similar to apples, making them a natural complement to apple orchards. However, little has been done to research how hops grow in Michigan. According to this study, bittering hops produce better than aromatic hops in this climate. More specifically, Chinook, Brewer's Gold, Pride of Ringwood, Galena and Casacade produced cones the first year of harvest, though it was not enough to provide samples to brewers. A better harvest is expected in 2010 as the rhizomes will have had chance to more fully develop and establish a root system.
Related Grant:
Outcome PDF:
