State's Only Hops Farm Is Ready for Harvest

For those looking for locally-grown products blueberries, strawberries, pumpkins, etc., Rhode Island hosts plenty of options, from Westerly to Woonsocket to Tiverton to Chepachet. But, for those looking for hops, there’s only one place in the state you can get them.

Ocean State Hops, located right over the town line in Exeter behind Hallene Farm, is the state’s only hops farm and one of only a handful in New England.  Hops, traditionally grown in the Pacific Northwest, are used as a flavoring and stability agent in beer and in other beverages.

After starting four years ago with only one plant, owners Matt Richardson and Joel Littlefield, now have nearly 400 hops plants on the farm.

“It’s a lot of work when it comes down to it, but we’re getting great feedback,” said Littlefield. “It makes us want to keep doing it.”

Richardson and Littlefield, both with horticulture backgrounds, had been making homemade beer and decided to give hops farming a whirl after a hops shortage three years ago.

“It started as just us growing the hops for ourselves, but it’s grown so much since then,” said Richardson.

According to Richardson, the number of hops harvested from the farm could “handle a seasonal brew for a microbrew.” In fact, hops from Ocean State Hops will be mixed in with Newport Storm’s Rhode Island seasonal brew, due out in November.

Ocean State Hops features four varieties of hops – Cascade, Chinook, Nugget and Newport.

“It’s just like tomatoes; there are different varieties of hops,” said Richardson.

The farm has seen success and a following, courtesy of friendly word of mouth and aided by its blog. The two have even received feedback from as far as New York.

Harvest time for hops begins in late August and early September – right in the middle of hurricane season. Richardson and Littlefield, aided by friends and family, have been hurriedly picking the Cascade hops before Hurricane Irene makes landfall later this weekend.

Those who want to purchase wet hops right off the vines will have until tomorrow to do so for $1 an ounce. Dry hops are also available. (Visit their website for more information.)