Hops are not only what makes beer smell and taste like beer, but they are an awesome plant. The hops in the picture are Cascade hops, a native American variety. There are many varieties of hops, each one gives different qualities to the beer. Some are more aeromatic, giving good aroma to the beer, while others give better flavor. I started growing hops about 4-5 years ago, the plant pictured here is in it's third season and is doing very well. Hops are a vine plant and like to have lots of direct sunlight, but also require a lot of water. In the peak growing season, mid to late June in Ohio, they will actually grow 3 inches or more in a single day! The flowers, or cones, are what are harvested for use in brewing.
