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FEaTURE

Varieties
There are hundreds of varieties of hops,
but they can be divided into two main
categories: bittering and aroma. Bittering
hops are added earlier in the brewing
process and are used for antibacterial
properties and for their bitter flavor. aroma
hops are used to add other flavours such
as citrus, pine, earthy, dank, musty or very
fruity.

although he grows multiple varietals,
Maloney focuses on a single cultivar called
Krakanup, a variety which has a sweet
aroma and a distinctive flavour profile.
Khaya Maloney tends to the hops plants Khaya Maloney at the entrance to the greenhouse. The dark
curtains are used to manipulate or ‘trick’ the flowering stage Krakanup is a hybrid hop variety and
of the grow cycle, a process known as photo-periodism. a cross between Cascade (a flavour and
aroma hop) and Chinook, two varieties
that originated in the US. They have been
• the system is automated and a sensor growing medium substrate. It is organic key players in the rise of the west Coast
controls temperature and lighting, which and comprises mainly coconut husks; american pale ale style that has excited
can be adjusted as required; • hops are not grown from seed and several west Coast beer gurus, including
• the fixed greenhouse is a structure of Maloney grows the plant rhizomes in the the award-winning team at The Monk in
300m in size and seven metres in height; coco peat, which provides excellent water Fremantle. They say their Krakanup is “very
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• drip irrigation has been installed and and oxygen retention, a high quality root tasty, fruity and totally different”.
water as well as nutrients are fed through structure and good plant yields;
the pipes. a 5000 litre water tank enables • hops require considerable amounts of NaK, known as Nog-a-Klip, is floral and
a loop irrigation system. The drip emitters nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus for somewhat spicy, and occasionally has mild
are placed in the plant bags and each optimum growth; hints of pine. The overriding flavour tends
plant receives approximately eight litres • there are 550 plants in the greenhouse to be citrus, in particular grapefruit.
of water per day; and the optimum yield is 400g per plant,
• Maloney uses the Dutch bucket system, with the aim of reaching 700g; Profile descriptions for the Styrian Dragon
a growing technique for climbing plants. • in terms of maintenance, hops plants include floral citrus, grapefruit, lemon,
however instead of actual buckets, the hops last approximately 25 years and the coco berries, rose and tropical fruit. It works
plants are grown in 50 micron plastic bags; peat is changed out every two years. a well with all hop-forward beers (those
• adequate roof space is required, as well dormancy period of about two seasons with a juicy, grapefruity flavour) including
as space in between each plant. hops can is normally required but this is currently american, Belgian and British styles, and
grow up to eight cm per day and trellises being revised for continuous growth and especially modern India pale ale, which is
are required to support the stems. when year-round production and yields, as made with extra hops.
there is no more space for upward growth, hops are perennial plants;
the plants begin to bend and grow • the hops plants are supported using Maloney supplies craft brewers, local chefs
sideways, across the greenhouse; threading for trellising and this in Johannesburg as well as cosmetic and
• Instead of soil, coco peat is used as the sometimes needs rewiring. tea companies. n

Extractor fans ensure that the ideal Water and nutrients are fed to the plants by The Dutch bucket system is used; this is a
temperature in the greenhouse is maintained means of drip irrigation growing technique for climbing plants. However
– this is between 17 – 21 degrees C instead of actual buckets, the hops are grown in
50 micron plastic bags.

Landscape Sa • Issue 119 2022 11