I'm not going to try to educate you on hops in beer, or the how and why they're even used as an ingredient in recipes.  As a plant person, what I can do is educate you on growing hops in your own garden.  

Being a perennial plant, hops come back year after year. If you purchased our hop rhizomes earlier, it's important to get them planted soon. If you missed out on getting them, we potted some up into 1 gal. containers, which can be planted any time of the year. Early in the spring, hops are rapid growers, growing up to 12" per day.  Depending on variety, maximum height will be 15-25 ft. In June, the hop reaches its maximum height and then develops sidearms, or the flowering and fruiting (cones) part of the plant. Hops like to be grown in a moist, well drained soil in a location that receives plenty of sunlight. 

Some sources recommend pruning the first shoots (bines) because of early frost damage.  We planted 3 - 5 gal. containers in March and the plants had temperatures in the upper 20's on 2 nights without any frost damage.  Hops make great ornamental plants in the garden, not to mention the benefits of growing them for your own home brewing needs.  Here is our handout for detailed cultural instructions.

One plant food that I am wanting to try on the hops this summer is from Foxfarm.  The leader in indoor gardening, Foxfarm Cha Ching  is engineered to maximize a plant's production. Every stage of the growing cycle demands optimal nutrition. Cha Ching® is a high-phosphorus fertilizer that won't leave a salty residue or build up in the soil. Even better, we've included the micronutrient pack that FoxFarm is known for. It contains all the essential elements you need to support juicy fruit on compact, stocky plants. Cha Ching® creates juicy, robust fruit with essential oils and resins pumping out of stems and leaves. That means concentrated flavor and perfect texture for your hops.

We have 12 varieties of hops planted for your garden this year, be it for ornamental or fruiting purposes, or both.  Here is a link to our list of hops and their characteristics.