Growing Hops and Brewing Beer

Summer Reading Kickoff - Tiverton Public Library
Registration Required. Call 401-625-6796 to reserve.

Growing Hops and Brewing Beer

The Northeast was the largest producer of hops in America until Prohibition. Longtime gardener and home brewer Sanne Kure-Jensen will discuss cultivating, harvesting and drying hops. Participants will learn about trellising systems, how to tell when flowers are ready for harvest as well as proper drying and storage techniques. 

Kure-Jensen will discuss the history of hops across the globe. Hops have ornamental landscape and medicinal uses besides flavoring beer. Participants will learn about different types of beer (lager, ale, IPA, porter, stout, etc.) and their appropriate hops. See photos from Rhode Island’s only Hops Farm, Ocean State Hops in Exeter. 

The workshop will include home brewing steps, brewing terms, required equipment, ingredients, sanitation, some things to watch out for and sources for recipes and ingredients. Kure-Jensen will discuss yeast types, how to start and pitch yeast, brew mash, when to add hops and the importance of speedy wort cooling. Participants will learn how to bottle homebrew with various bottle types and capping equipment. Kure-Jensen will discuss dry hopping and selecting an ideal conditioning site; temperature and light matter. Learn the right way to pour a homebrew when your efforts pay off.

Sanne Kure-Jensen

Sanne Kure-Jensen is an organic grower, beekeeper and horticultural writer in Portsmouth, RI where she has been promoting pollinator-friendly growing for many years. She is a regular contributor to “Country Folks Grower.” Sanne offers workshops on pollinators, beekeeping, ecological landscaping and home brewing.  She also manages educational programs and outreach for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Rhode Island (NOFA/RI).