Hop Walk in Faversham

By the Southern Section

The IBD Southern Section would like to invite its members and guests to a hop walk in Faversham on Tuesday 5th September.

This event is a fantastic opportunity to learn how UK hops are grown, see them being harvested and kilned and assess their differing characteristics. There will also be the opportunity to hear more about new varieties being trialed in the UK as well as an update on the international hop harvest from Ed Kentish Barnes of Hopsteiner.

Beers will be provided showcasing UK varieties throughout the afternoon.

The hop walk is being held at T.G Redsell Ltd, Parsonage Farm and hosted by Antony Redsell.  Assistance is also being provided by Stewart Tricker of Shepherd Neame, Ed Kentish Barnes of Steiner Hops Ltd and committee member Russell Falconer.

This will be an outdoor event but as this is an operating farm and beer will be available, we ask that you don’t bring children or pets.

Schedule

• Arrive: 1300 -1400hrs where a buffet lunch will be available
• Hop Tour and Harvest: 1400 - 1530hrs which will include a visit to plantings of new varieties and see new Wolf picking machines and Oast House
• Discussion: 1530 - 1630hrs informal update on European and US harvest and UK barley crop
• Depart : 1630 - 1700hrs

Transport and Accommodation:

• By car – there will be parking available in the field across the road from the farm office
• By rail – Faversham train station is a 5 minute taxi ride away. Trains depart from London Victoria, London St Pancras International and Cannon Street to Faversham. We might be able to provide some return transport to the station at the end of the day, but when arriving there is a well-stocked taxi rank outside the station
• Accommodation – there are a number of hotels around Faversham and Canterbury for those wishing to stop over.

Green Hops – There will be an opportunity to buy green hops  which have been picked and cleaned and packed in pokes, for ease of transport and addition back at your brewery the next morning.

Why You Should Attend:

• View the 2023 hops with a talk on the International hop harvest and this year’s UK barley crop
• Get a chance to rub and evaluate UK hop varieties
• Meet fellow peers in the brewing industry

Tickets: Free to attend.

There is no cost to the day, but it is important that we know numbers to organise catering and beer. We would therefore ask that you make a booking via Eventbrite and notify us if you are unable to attend.

Booking deadline: FRIDAY, 1 September 2023