Have you ever dreamed of brewing your own beer with homegrown hops? With over 250 years of expertise in hop growing, our family-run farm in Kent has been producing top-quality hops for generations. 

Why Grow Your Own Hops?

There are so many reasons to grow your own hops at home:

• Unbeatable Freshness – Homegrown hops mean you get the freshest possible ingredients for your beer, maximizing flavour and aroma.
• Unique Flavour Control – Each hop variety has its own distinct taste profile, allowing you to experiment and create a brew that's truly your own.
• Sustainable & Cost-Effective – Reduce your carbon footprint and save money by growing hops instead of buying packaged varieties.
• Beautiful Garden Addition – Even if you aren’t planning to brew your own beer, Hop Plants are vigorous climbers, creating a lush and green feature in your garden.

Castle Farm Hop Plant Varieties 

We offer four fantastic Hop varieties, each with its own unique characteristics that will enhance your home brewing. Here’s what makes each one special:

Prima Donna (Dwarf)

• Characteristics: A compact, easy-to-grow dwarf hop, perfect for smaller gardens or even large pots.
• Brewing Profile: Spicy and citrusy, with hints of orange peel and floral undertones.
• Growth Habit: Unlike traditional tall hops, Prima Donna grows to a manageable height of 2-3metres high, making it ideal for home growers.
• Best For: A versatile hop that suits a wide range of beer styles, from bitters to pale ales.

Wye Challenger

• Characteristics: A strong and disease-resistant British hop, known for its balanced flavour. Produces a mass of smaller hop flowers up the length of the bine when mature.
• Brewing Profile: Offers a well-rounded bitterness with notes of spice, cedar, and subtle fruitiness.
• Growth Habit: A reliable, high-yielding variety that thrives in home gardens.
• Best For: Perfect for classic English ales, bitters, and stouts.

Golding

• Characteristics: A traditional English hop with a long history in brewing.
• Brewing Profile: Delicate and slightly sweet, with floral, earthy, and honeyed notes.
• Growth Habit: A vigorous grower that produces high-quality hop cones year after year.
• Best For: Ideal for traditional English ales, porters, and mild beers.

Fuggle

• Characteristics: One of the most famous British hop varieties, dating back to the 19th century. Produces larger sized flowers up the bine when mature.
• Brewing Profile: Mild, woody, and earthy, with hints of spice and grassiness.
• Growth Habit: A hardy plant that thrives in UK gardens, producing an abundant harvest.
• Best For: A go-to hop for bitters, milds, and stouts.

How to Grow Hops Successfully 

Growing hops is easier than you think! Follow these simple steps for a bountiful harvest:

• Choose the Right Spot: Hops love sunshine! Pick a location with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
• Provide Support: These climbing plants need a trellis, fence, or string to grow effectively. We sell specialist Coir Hop String which we use in our Hop Gardens and which the therefore perfect for Hop growth at home.
• Regular Pruning: Trim back excess growth to ensure the plant focuses energy on producing quality hop cones.
• Harvesting & Drying: Pick your hops when they feel dry and papery, then dry them thoroughly before using them in brewing. This is usually in September.

Castle Farm has been growing hops for over 250 years, and although now our Hop Bines are sold purely for interior decoration, the Hop Plants we sell are equally used for brewing at home – or just for beautiful garden decoration! Growing your own hops is a fun and rewarding way to enhance your home-brewing experience.

Whether you want the citrusy zest of Prima Donna or the earthy richness of Fuggle, we have the perfect hop plant for you.

Browse our range of hop plants today and start brewing with homegrown goodness! Plants are available potted from the Farm Shop, or as bare root plants online.  Shop Now