Located in Winchester, Virginia, our hop farm grows rediscovered European heirloom hops from pre-Prohibition American times using modern permaculture practices.
Two-hundred plus years in the making.
Delving into the rich tapestry of brewing history, our curated collection of heirloom hops is a captivating resurrection of varieties that have languished in obscurity for generations—some seemingly lost to the art of beer brewing for over a century. These extraordinary cultivars form a family with deep roots, both literally and metaphorically, having been brought to the Americas by enterprising European immigrants. These pioneers, carving out new lives in the untamed landscapes of the Eastern and Midwest United States, not only established colonies and homesteads but also nurtured the seeds of a brewing legacy that spans centuries.
These heirloom hops, each with its own unique story, boast genetic lineages that precede the more common hop varieties prevalent in today's brewing landscape. This ancestral connection imparts a depth and complexity to their flavor profiles that reflect the resilience and adaptability of these forgotten varieties over time. It's a genetic journey that spans generations, echoing the footsteps of those early settlers who planted the seeds that would flourish into the hop bines we cultivate today.
Contrary to being wild or native, these hops were carefully tended by hands that understood the alchemy of brewing. Their clandestine history adds a layer of intrigue; many were rediscovered behind weathered barns or nestled in the quiet corners of pine plantings surrounding old farm homesteads. An intriguing twist in their narrative emerges from the shadows of the Prohibition Era, a time when the pursuit of hops for brewing was driven underground. It is in these clandestine locations that some of these heirloom varieties were seemingly hidden, patiently awaiting rediscovery.
As we revive these long-forgotten hop varieties, we are not just cultivating plants; we are nurturing a living connection to a bygone era. This collection is a testament to the resilience of brewing traditions and the untold stories encoded in the DNA of these heirloom hops. Each sip of beer brewed with these hops is a toast to the past, a celebration of the pioneers who, against all odds, preserved these botanical treasures for us to rediscover and appreciate in the present day.
