by Erin Vaughn
When my significant other and I first started homebrewing, we were just the teeniest bit intimidated. We had lofty visions of drinking our first homemade batch, toasting our self-sufficiency, but we weren’t sure if we’d have room for it. We were both pressed for space as it was in our crammed one-bedroom apartment.
But I decided to take matters into my own hands and bought a starter kit from the awesome and supportive local homebrew supply shop. Many, many batches of beer later (minus one that exploded and sent grain flying all over the place), our little apartment setup is running just fine, producing two kegs at a time. So, my next thought was, “If we can get our tiny apartment to produce beer, why can’t we get it to produce the herbs and hops we use in our recipes?” Small space never stopped me before, right?
Behold, I give you a guide to growing your own brewing ingredients, even if your garden is teeny tiny.
To Hop, Or Not?
I’m not really a hop head, but they’re probably some of the best beer ingredients to grow yourself. Fresh hops can really enrich your brew’s flavor since their essential oils—which give beer its flavor and aroma—start to degrade the longer they are stored, meaning the stuff you get from the homebrew supply store may not be as potent as the fresh stuff.
Hops do need some room to climb, so they’re a little bit tricky in really tight spaces. However, with the help of an adjustable trellis and a very large container (at least 20 inches or 50 cm in diameter), you’ll be off to the races in no time.
When planting hops, make sure the soil is well-drained—while hops don’t exactly like it dry, they will definitely shrivel up and die in standing water. You’ll also need lots and lots of sunlight. I’m lucky that my apartment faces east, so it gets plenty of quality sun. If you face north, you may have to scrap the hops, or else move. Heck, it might be worth it for a quality brew!
The Ups and Downs of Berries
One problem with berries is that you’ll need a lot—and I mean a lot—to make a quality wort. In fact, most recipes require somewhere between one and two pounds of fruit per gallon of beer. It can be pretty difficult to get that kind of production out of container gardens unless you are very, very dedicated.
If you want to try it, strawberries or blueberries are your best bet—they make better container plants. Choose red alpine strawberries if your area is shady, as this cultivar can tolerate less sun than other varieties. In fact, a tabletop growing system can produce very high yields of strawberries.
Chiles—A Little Pep in Your Garden
Peppers are a container gardener’s best friend. They do fairly well in pots, and you don’t have to pick a peck of peppers to give your beer a kick. Peppers like jalapeños, serranos, and habaneros just need some water and well-aerated soil, and maybe a little hit of tomato fertilizer once a month or so.
In a small garden, you also want to take advantage of every blossom on the plant, so you can help your peppers be more productive by pollinating them. Use a cotton swab to gently rub pollen from one flower to another. Then, once you’ve harvested your miniature crop, drop in peppers during secondary fermentation and let them steep for a few days, until your beer reaches the desired heat level. Remember—the hotter the weather, the hotter the pepper. For most people, sweeter, greener peppers make a more potable brew than their super-spicy red brothers.
Herbs, or What to Grow When You’re Really Tight on Space
We’re not monks here, so you can get a little creative with what you put in your beer. And in a tiny living space, that means herbs—they’re so space-efficient that they don’t need much more than a windowsill to be happy.
Choose plants according to your beer preference. For instance, I love a good tripel, which means coriander (also known as cilantro—yep, the same plant that makes your taco so good or so disgusting, depending on your take on the herb). Coriander is actually made up of the seeds of the cilantro plant, so you’ll have to let your plants blossom, then harvest and dry the seeds. Thai basil is another good choice—it’s easy to grow, as long as you keep it moist. And when used with a light hand, basil can add a complex, citrusy note to IPAs. You can also grow your own ginger root without too much gardening experience—root it right from a piece of ginger from the grocery store.
Malt Extract Containers Make Magical Pots for Plants
What brewer doesn’t hate seeing malt extract containers go into the recycle bin? Seems like sort of a waste, right? You can pop a few holes in these with scissors and voila—instant pot for herbs. Or use them to store the results of your gardening handiwork, which are bound to be plentiful if you play your cards right.
About the Author
Erin Vaughan is a blogger, gardener, and aspiring homeowner. She currently resides in Austin, Texas, where she writes full time for Modernize.com, with the goal of empowering homeowners with the expert guidance and educational tools they need to take on big home projects with confidence.
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