wild hops

[jim]

Just been out to Wickham Common to get damsons and blackberries for jam and, walking back beside the River Wallington, noticed the hedgerows were full of wild hops. Crushing and smelling them they smelt of really rough homebrew bitter. If I was going to use them for beer I suppose they'd need drying so I'd have to collect an awful lot to get the dry weight of 4oz that I usually use for a brew. I'm also a bit dubious because, like I said, they smell really rough. Does anyone have any experience in using wild hops to flavour their homebrew?

Love and Peace
Jim

[Odsox]

Not a beer brewer Jim but as someone who knows a bit about hops, they should be perfectly OK Jim as the wild hop is only one step removed from the old Fuggles hops that were the variety that almost every Kent farmer grew up until about 1960.
Chances are it's a self sown seedling anyway, and green hops are really aromatic compared to dried hops, and now is the best time to pick them ... another three weeks and they will be no good.

[jim]

Dear Tony,

Thanks for that! Will try to get out and get some this week-end,

Love and Peace
Jim