At a hops festival this month, learn how a tiny plant makes a big difference in beer.

by Olivia Springer . photos by Frank Bott

In Beer City, USA, it seems only natural to celebrate hops plants as well. Hops, of course, are the climbing vines that ultimately give beer its bitter flavor. This month, a local hops farm is opening its doors for a beery—and hopefully, educational—bash.

Hops are of the utmost importance to brewers, and in a region with so many beer makers, you’d think hops farms would be springing up everywhere. But Julie Jensen, the woman behind the hops field Echoview Farm in Weaverville, says local brewers are just now coming around to the idea of sourcing hops locally—mainly because small farms usually can’t produce enough of the kind of dried, pelletized hops brewers want.

A Washington, D.C. transplant, Jensen started growing hops after practicing law for close to 20 years. She had put down farming roots in the Midwest, where she grew up, and then bought a 100-acre farm in Weaverville where she cultivates 2,000 hops plants (and raises goats, chickens and honeybees, too). Echoview is known for hands-on classes and demonstrations of various kinds, including summer camps for girls. But the main attraction is hops. According to Jensen, hers is one of the largest hops farms in the state. “I wanted to find something that could allow me to make decent money on small acreage,” she says.

At the farm’s day-long hops fest in July, its second annual, brewers and beer devotees can learn about hops-growing practices, have lunch, hear bluegrass and taste Echoview’s homebrew.

So far, Jensen has partnered up with Asheville-based Riverbend Malt House, a malt maker, and hopes to eventually link up with the bevy of local craft brewers. Right now, she’s investing in equipment that lets her dry and pelletize her plants. Meantime, she’s inviting brewers in to talk about the idea of sourcing hops locally. In her view, it’s just one more step in the “grow local” and “buy local” food loop. “If you want to be really serious about sustainability, you need to have something that grabs attention,” she says. “Hops and beer does that in the area.”

For more about Echoview Farm and the Hops Festival, which runs July 16 from 11am-3pm, check out www.echoviewfarm.com.