On The Origins of Hops. 11-17-2013

I have heard many different theories as to the origins of this “weed” that we call hops.  So I figured I would start documenting what I read about it.  And I need to start somewhere.

To this end, I have found a reference in the following book:

Curiosities of Ale and Beer: An Entertaining History by John Bickerdyke.  Originally printed in 1889, but a more recent publishing was made available in July of 2012.  Amazon has the following posted about the book:

“Ale and Beer should fill a bulky volume, may be a subject for surprise to the unthinking reader ;and that surprise will probably be intensified, on his learning that great difficulty has been experienced in keeping this book within reasonable limits, and at the same time doing anything like justice to the subject. Since the dawn of our history Barley-wine has been the naturall drinke for an Englysshe man, and has had no unimportant influence on English life and manners. It is, therefore, somewhat curious that up to the present, among the thousands of books published annually, no comprehensive work on the antiquities of ale and beer has found place, Some years ago this strange neglect of so excellent a theme was observed by the late John Grsville Fennell, best known as a contributor to Tle Fidd, and who, like John of the Dale, was a lover of ale. With him probably originated the idea of filling this void in our literature. As occasion offered he made extracts from A vorks bearing on the subject, and in time amassed a considerable amount of material, which was, however, devoid of arrangement. Old age overtaking him before he was able to commence writing his proposed book, he asked me to undertake that which from failing health he was unable to accomplish.”

Somehow, I have found the reference to page 70 which suggests that hops were first grown in Kent on an ‘appreciable scale’ by Flemish immigrants in 1524.

By itself, this means nothing because I haven’t vetted this but I wanted to keep it handy should I find more references.  I may just have to get the book and look it up, but I seem to recall a similar statement in my book “A History of English Ale & Beer”.

More to come…