Humulus lupulus Hersbrucker - Common Hop

Humulus lupulus 'Hersbrucker' is a variety of pleasantly aromatic female hop, selected in Germany for brewing beer. Its green cones, harvested in summer, give the beer a balanced aroma, both fruity, spicy and floral. It is commonly used in Germany, and this variety is now making its way among English brewers. The cones can also be used to make sedative and soothing herbal teas or in pillows for their soothing properties. This vigorous deciduous vine, hardy and perennial by its stump, is also appreciated for its beautiful luxuriant foliage, reminiscent of that of the vine. In ornamental gardens, hops are perfect for embellishing and quickly hiding any unsightly support.

Humulus lupulus belongs to the Cannabaceae family, just like hemp and the hackberry. It is native to Europe, temperate Asia, and boreal Africa where it inhabits cool and humid places. It is a perennial herbaceous vine with a large fleshy root that regenerates its entire above-ground vegetation each year and rests underground during the winter. It is a powerful plant that can spread through suckers. Hops are a dioecious plant, meaning that there are male and female plants. Only the female plants are used to make beer. 'Hersbrucker', originally selected for its resistance to verticillium wilt, is a female variety whose inflorescences in the form of cones are harvested.

The 'Hersbrucker' hop develops herbaceous and voluble stems in spring, emerging from the slightly suckering stump, quickly entwining any support available. Their growth is very rapid, reaching approximately 6 to 8m (20 to 26ft) in one season. An adult plant will therefore occupy about 7m (23ft) in height and 1.50m (5ft) in spread. They have a quadrangular section and bear rough, beautifully cut leaves with 3 to 5 pointed, dentate lobes. The colour of the leaves is a bright green. The female inflorescences appear in summer, from June to August depending on the climate. They are green catkins that will take the form of cones. Oval-shaped, these cones have a scaly appearance, they are acid green in colour when ripe and covered with a fragrant and powdery resin called lupulin, which gives bitterness to beer. They are usually harvested in September.

In ornamental gardens, the 'Hersbrucker' hop is an excellent complement to a wisteria or a Virginia creeper. These vigorous and carefree climbing plants flower in spring for the former and colour the foliage in autumn for the latter. It will breathe new life into an old tree, conceal a tired garden shed or an unsightly structure, and enhance a pergola or a fence. The flowers, picked in September, make beautiful dried bouquets.

The female inflorescences, the cones, have been used to flavour beer since the 8th century. Previously, hops were only used to ensure the preservation of beer. Currently (despite modern preservation technologies), this tradition has remained for the slight bitterness and flavour that hops bring. Its young voluble stems can also be consumed in the same way as asparagus.