Having found its way into the mainstream, the thriving craft beer scene is not only now filling up bottles with locally brewed beer but reaching back to its roots and filling the brewery itself with locally grown ingredients.

Chester County’s own Deer Creek Malthouse reclaimed the forgotten practice of making craft malts in its restored century-and-a-half-old Glen Mills barn — and resurrected the ages-old craft of malt making as the state’s first malthouse since Prohibition, but the supply of farmers growing hops locally is still just emerging.

Penn Live writer Sara Bozich highlighted Deer Creek Malthouse hops in a feature story that took her to a new hops farm near Carlisle and West Chester to explore how the craft beer supply chain is taking root.

Bozich, part of the team from Troegs Brewing Co. and the Sunny Brae Hops husband-wife duo recently helped plant two acres of hop plants.

“We spent a sunny, sweaty morning planting approximately 1,200 hop plants and were rewarded with cans of Troegs Cultivator and 717 Collaboration Ale, plus an incredible picnic lunch from Troegs star chef Christian DeLutis,” she wrote.

And she plans to return at harvest to see the results.

“Fun fact for those of you who think you ‘hate hops’: You drink ’em. They are in every beer. They are used for bittering, flavor and aroma, and there are countless cultivars each with their own profile. Some lend a citrus note, while others are piney and dank. Other hops give floral aromas, and yet more add hints of spice or earth.”

Read much more about the experience and the growing hop effort to supply local hops and malt on Penn Live here, and check out previous Vista Today coverage of the story behind Deer Creek Malthouse here.

_______

Top photo courtesy of Philly.com