SMaSH Brewing - Is Simple Better?

Drew Beechum of the famed Maltose Falcons did a talk at this years NHC about SMaSH brewing. SMaSH stands for single malt and single hop. Many of us spend so much time trying to load our beer with various malts and hops in search of that perfect homebrew. Does it really make a better beer?

That is open for debate. But Drew makes a case on why simple is better and I thought I'd share it with the group. It was enough to convince me to give it a shot and maybe I'll do some write up on what I find.

Burrs continue to Pop Up

My Cascade plant is the only one that has any burrs this year. I'm not that disappointed. I'm just happy that I can see it for the first time from at least one variety. Burrs continue to pop out at ever leaf level as it climbs.

A lot of the cones have brown tips. Not sure what that means so I'm going to have to research. Wonder if it could just be the intense daily heat and sun that is just scorching them. Either way, there appears to be plenty of burrs that I should take at least some harvest this year, even if just a few ounces. I'll take that!

Cascade Has Plenty of Burrs

I continue to heavily water the hops in this near 100 degree heat and they seem to love it, especially the Cascade. I noticed the other day that burrs are starting to form. Very exciting! I thought I saw some burrs last year, but I now know they were just the arms forming. None of the other plants are showing signs of burrs but I'll settle on just one variety this year as a start. Maybe those other plants will surprise me before the end of the season.

Hops Need Water....Duh

Last spring was one of the rainest times in Cincinnati history. I had poor drainage for my hops and my US Tettnang spent much of the spring under water. I felt that was a reason for a disappointing first season. My plants (4 varieties) didn't get that tall and I didn't even get one cone.

I built up the bed last fall and felt I gave my hops a much better growning enviornment and they started off this season great. But as of 2 weeks ago most of my plants were only around 6 feet tall. What was I doing wrong? I'm now certain it was a lack of water during this current spring. I was so afraid of overwatering after last year that this year I likely didn't water enough.

Now that it is in the mid 90s everyday, I've tried to get out there and water daily and the hops are taking off! The Cascade and Mt. Hood are easily growing  a few inches a day and the Cascade is putting out a ton of arms. Everything I've read said that they need plenty of water. I tried to keep them wet during this past spring and early summer, but it wasn't anywhere close to enough I now know.

So my plan is to continue to water them daily while its hot and hope for the best. Now for next year, a much stricker watering schedule earlier in the spring. Though I know I won't have a great yield, I'd love to at least get some cones this season! Time will tell.