Hops, Grapes and Beer Production

RCEMG’s March meeting welcomed Pippin Williamson, brewmaster for Sandhills Brewing, a small microbrewery located in Hutchinson. Their focus is on oak-fermented and specialty beer but, as a tiny brewery, they have flexibility to experiment and try all kinds of beers. One of their goals has always been to create beers “from right here.”  In other words, a beer that is uniquely central Kansas and specifically Hutchinson. 

Ninety-eight percent of the beer made here uses water from a local sand hills well which gives the beer its unique flavor. Sandhills Brewing also incorporates local Kansas-native fruits in some of its brews to give beers a distinct flavor and color. Pippin mentioned black cherries, sand hill plums, staghorn sumac, and pawpaws. 

A few of our Master Gardeners have even provided hops and grapes for the brewing process. In the vein of keeping it local, local resources are used whenever possible and all the beer varieties are named for local birds.

Pippin Williamson with MG Julia Hulsey

Pippin brought samples for us to smell and taste. 

Hops, roasted barley and even beer! 

Photos by Becky Crockford

Although, in the normal garden, hops cultivation doesn’t provide a sufficient harvest for making beer, the bines are a great ornamental plant. When grown as an ornamental, plants will be approximately 15 – 20' tall and 3 – 10' wide.