UNC-TV Films At The Farm And The Hop Harvest Tour

John Litschke film Van Burnette

John Litschke of J. Martin Productions recently filmed our farm for a segment on the popular UNC-TV show, North Carolina Weekend.  John, along with videographer Adam Foster spent most of the day shooting for the upcoming show that should air around mid-September.

They interviewed my wife Martha and several other people that showed up for a tour of the farm that day.  There were young children, teenagers, and adults alike that were ask to be a part of the process in front of the camera.

Martha Howell Burnette gets in the spotlight

This is the second time in a month or so that the Hop'n Blueberry Farm has been featured on camera.  We are hoping for the best results with increased awareness for our farm and for future tours.

Shannon Hunt watches her son get interviewed

2nd Annual Hop Harvest Tour

This year we had a good crowd of enthusiastic folks show up for the tour.  Everyone on them were tuned in and all wanted to know more than any other group that I have ever dealt with in terms of learning about growing hops.

We had some big cones and full vines to show off to the crowd and I had the yard in good "show" shape.  I honestly think that this crowd this year was more interested in seeing and touching the hops than drinking them. 

But, when the drinking light was turned on, the samples flowed freely once again from Pisgah Brewing Company newest rendition of the now famous "Burnette's Fresh Hop" beer.  This years recipe is probably the best in 4 years.  I was able to spice up the batch with Josh Smith's OB Joyful Hopfarms chinook hops this year.   His addition really made a difference in the taste.

Are we planning another?  Maybe, we will see in a few days, so better not wait, get on down to a Pisgah beer venue and try it out.  It will only last another week or so.

Hop Harvest Tour And Sampling

The Hop’n Blueberry Farm in Black Mountain NC is announcing its 2nd annual Hop Harvest Tour and Sampling. This event will be held at the farm on July 21, 2012 and will feature the farm’s hop operation where participants can see hops and how they are grown. Then you will be able to sample how their hops actually taste in a newly released beer from Pisgah Brewing Company brewed from hops produced from their farm.
The Hop'n Blueberry Farm is one of the first farms in North Carolina to produce hops commercially and has become well known for their participation in providing hops to the local and thriving craft beer industry in the Asheville, NC area. They have been featured in many publications both locally and nationally including the Wall Street Journal. They have also been featured on television and soon at the Sundance Film Festival as part of a documentary on the craft beer industry.
Four years ago, they partnered with Pisgah Brewing Company for their production of the truly unique "wet" or "fresh hop" beer. A fresh hop beer is made from hops picked fresh off the vines at Van Burnette's farm and are added to the boil within minutes after the pick. His farm is only 5 miles from Pisgah Brewing Company, so it is as fresh and local as it gets. This differs from traditional beers where hops picked and dried months before they are distributed to breweries coming all the way from the Northwest coast of the US.
The event will feature a sampling of "Burnette's Fresh Hop" beer after the tour of the hop yard. The beer will not last long, so this is a unique opportunity to see and smell hops on the vine, and then taste a very aromatic fresh hop beer in the glass. This year OB Joyful Hop Farm in Arden, NC has added their tasty Chinook hops to the brew as well. After the tour, participants can travel a short distance to Pisgah Brewing Company where they can visit and taste more of this beer or any of their other great products.
Tickets are only $8 and can be purchased at the farm on the day of the event. Cash only. The tour starts at 1 p.m. and will last until 2:30 p.m. when folks are invited to Pisgah Brewing Company to buy more of their other tasty taps.