[Brew-list] Homegrown Hop and Grain Harvesting

[Randy & Wendy Russ]

Fellow Brew Masters,
   Just finished harvesting all our hops.  They had opened and dried  
slightly, while lightening in color.  We use paper bags with a couple  
inches of fresh hops in each.  Place them in a spare room and turn up  
the heat with a fan running.  The room only reaches about 100,  but I  
go in and shake the bags ever couple hours, and within a few days they  
are dry and ready to bag.  We use gallon freezer bags filled with  
about 3 ounces each,  and then have a local meat shop vacuum pack them  
for us.  This is our fifth year of growing hops at Lozeau MT, just  
southeast of Superior MT.  I also just discovered a wild hop growing  
along the river in Superior.  I harvested a pound or so, and will be  
titrating them this week to see what they are.  If anyone wants to  
pick some there is still a few pounds hanging.   We are also about to  
harvest our Metcalf malt barley grown by Donally INC.  See pic below  
taken last month.  This is our second harvest of malt barely in  
Western Montana.  This first time being in 2004 when we harvested 1700  
pounds off one acre.  I have malted and used all but 35 pounds of that  
crop, and this year we planted over two acres.  The crop looks good so  
far, and if everything goes as planed we will have more than we can  
use.  I'm certain that if anyone would like to purchase some direct  
from the field they would be happy.  Because I can't use all of it the  
farmer told me he will just toss in the leftovers with the feed  
barely.  I'm also increasing my malting set-up from six five gallon  
buckets to one 75 gallon stock tank.  I might be interested in selling  
my bucket set-up to someone interested in malting their own grain.  We  
have eight brews that have been created from our own hops and grains.   
If interested in malting your own grain remember that you need to have  
more time on your hands than brains.  Its not going to get you rich by  
any means, but its a rewarding venture for some.  I'm still on the  
look for any brewery that can claim that they ""Only Use"  Montana  
grains and hops in their brewery.  If anyone has ran across this  
establishment I'd love to hear about it.  In fact I'd even like to  
hear of any home brewers out there that are doing the same.
   Sorry that we have never attended any meetings and or club  
functions.  We have several home businesses and a small ranch that  
keeps us tied down.  We only get to Missoula every couple months for a  
stock up trip. But want to thank everyone for their brewing thoughts  
and questions.  Its most enjoyable to know of others out there in the  
home brewing venture.  And a nice treat to read your mail.  If any of  
you are ever interested in doing it all yourself, feel free to ask me  
questions.
   Sincerely Randy Russ
Rainbows End
406-822-3621
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