“These are the hops, they look like little pine cones,” Gene L’Etoile explained on a recent visit as he plucked a vibrant green cone from a bine spiraling up a 18-foot-tall string in one of ...

In the 1800s, before Goschies began growing hops, fresh cones were stuffed into pillowcases to lull children to sleep, used as an antibacterial agent in soap, and served as a homegrown antidepressant.

“We sold all our hops to four different breweries in our first year,” Triggs said. “But we had about 20 people on the field handpicking hop cones in the August heat — it was miserable.

Hail or excessive wind can damage the burrs, which blossom into hop cones, affecting overall yield. Last year, High Wire produced 30% fewer hops due to heat and wind that dehydrated and stressed ...

The cones go through a cleaning process four times so only the cones brewers use to make beer make it into the kiln. Hop harvest is in full swing in the lower Yakima Valley.

Although it's huge, it performs the delicate job of removing a hop plant's flowery cones, which contain the oils that give beer its bitterness and aroma. It's an easy process to screw up.

Hop water is sparkling water flavored with hops, the green cone-shaped flowers packed with essential oils and hop acids that add flavor, aroma, stability, and bitterness to beer.

Hops vines -- and in particular the cones -- are poisonous to many breeds of dogs and some cats. Pet poisonings could increase with the upswing in home brewing.

Speaking of poundage, the total amount of hops currently growing in the U.S. has increased massively over the last few years. More than 59 million pounds of hops were grown in the U.S. in 2012.

The annual hop harvest is underway at CLS Farms near Moxee and other Yakima Valley farms. Officials with the Washington Hop Commission believe 2022 could produce one of the state’s ...