I'm looking to grow my own hops. I have some space to grow them that is well drained and closer to a water source but I'm concerned about the growing season in the UP. I'm close to lake Superior (walking distance) so that should provide some climate insulation. What strains has anyone had success with in this area?
I would contact the local AG extension. Chinook and Cascade do well for me, but I live in SE MI. The MSU research station in the UP near Chatham is working on malting barley. They might have an idea on the hops. http://www.canr.msu.edu/uprc/uprec_north_farm/
I grew some cascade half a mile from Lake Superior, in WI. Just one rhizome. It rotted out after two seasons. Too wet. There was a property about 30 minutes to the west of there where it looked like the guy strung up several dozen rhizomes, really went to town building a few rows of pole and cable trellis. Last time I drove by that way (1-2 summers ago) he had abandoned the effort. Have you been here? http://www.greatlakeshops.com/hopyard-map.html No one listed as growing commercially in the UP but there is someone near Duluth and Thunder Bay. You could try to contact them and ask, although there are probably microclimate and soil differences.
Although they are farther south in latitude from you, there is a huge hop farm on M-72 just NE of Traverse City (I suppose that is an Acme address), but I don't know their name or which varieties they grow. You could contact them to find out which varieties if someone else can provide a name.
Some interesting discussion in this thread: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/michigan-copper-or-mackinac-hops.491763/ Cheers!
The climate in the U.P. is not super different from where I am, within a mile of Lake Michigan here. I have had great success with both my plants, Hallertau and Cascade, even though they grow in the shade. I am confident that Cascade is just about the most robust hop plant on the planet and will grow like a friggin weed ANYWHERE. It is a really, really tough hop variety. Others may be fine as well but in the most extreme climates, I'm very confident you could be successful if you try Cascade.
