Are hops affected by forest fire smoke?

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by I_h8_clowns, Oct 14, 2018.

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  1. I_h8_clowns

    I_h8_clowns Initiate (0) May 31, 2018 Oregon

    Since almost 98% of hops in the US are grown in PNW, are they ever negatively affected by the abundant forest fires in the region or smoke that blows in from fires northern California?

    I know that for vineyards, if the grapes are exposed to forest fire smoke during sensitive stages of growth...the crop can be a total loss because of the off flavors that result in the final product.
     
    #1 I_h8_clowns, Oct 14, 2018
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  2. rrock44

    rrock44 Pooh-Bah (2,137) Oct 27, 2009 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Good question.

    Where I live (Dry-cities, SE WA), we had a lot of extremely hazy days (as well as a brush fire on the hill to our immediate south, that was literally a couple blocks away that burned down five houses) due to forest fires. Worse I have ever seen. What I noticed was my grass grew like crazy and was very thick like I fertilized the crap out of it (I didn’t). Spoke to my science friend and he said the air basicallly had all the components of fertilizer.

    So, maybe the hop yields will be abundant? I sure didn’t taste my grass though, so...
     
    #2 rrock44, Oct 14, 2018
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  3. BearsOnAcid

    BearsOnAcid Pooh-Bah (2,239) Mar 17, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    I've heard smoke acts like cloud cover and can actually protect the land from any harsh light and heat. Considering how dry and hot this summer was, that may be a good thing for certain crops – possibly hops.

    If a hop farm burned to the ground then yeah, that's bad. If someone made a beer with those hops I would definitely want to tick that.
     
    #3 BearsOnAcid, Oct 15, 2018
  4. itracy63

    itracy63 Savant (1,187) Apr 20, 2013 Washington

    What about a beer with smoked malt AND smoked hops?!! Rauchiest Rauchbier of all time.
     
    #4 itracy63, Oct 16, 2018
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  5. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Only if it's served with a bacon swizzle stick.
     
    #5 BBThunderbolt, Oct 16, 2018
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  6. jakecattleco

    jakecattleco Grand Pooh-Bah (3,749) Sep 3, 2008 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    #6 jakecattleco, Oct 16, 2018
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