Cultivating hops requires a special approach: careful selection of fields, competent agricultural techniques, and attention to every stage of the plant's growth, as the quality and characteristics of the future harvest directly depend on it. At "Grainrus Hops," great attention is paid to every production process to ensure the crop quality meets all international standards. This article covers the first stage of production—hop cultivation—which utilizes both traditional experience and modern technologies.

Hop Characeristics

Its cones are rich in lupulin glands, alpha and beta acids, and essential oils. It is these components that create beer's characteristic flavor and aroma profile—a subtle bitterness, along with herbal, floral, and other complex taste notes. Only female plants are cultivated for the brewing industry, as they alone produce the valuable cones.

Since 2020, "Grainrus Hops" has been cultivating hops on 180 hectares in the Krasnodar Krai. To ensure consistently high crop quality, we use modern agricultural technologies, select optimal varieties, and strictly monitor all stages of cultivation.

How Do Hops Grow?

Flat or slightly sloping fields with fertile soil and good moisture are chosen for establishing hop yards. The warm climate of the Krasnodar Krai is particularly favorable for bittering hop varieties and promotes the accumulation of alpha acids in the cones. Since hops are a vine-like plant, they are grown on tall trellises. In spring, special strings are attached to the trellises, and the young shoots climb up them, forming powerful and healthy plants.

In July, the flowering period begins in the hop yard, followed by the formation and development of the cones. In August–September, the cones reach maturity and accumulate the maximum amount of valuable substances important for brewing.

Irrigation of Hop Yards

To maintain plant health and stable growth, "Grainrus Hops" uses modern irrigation systems. Water is supplied from a storage pond via underground pipelines, and fertilizers and plant protection products are applied simultaneously with the water. This integrated approach not only provides optimal growth conditions for the hops but also maintains high crop quality year after year.

There are no minor details in hop production. The experience of "Grainrus Hops" successfully demonstrates how the best agricultural traditions can be combined with modern technologies. Today, we have reviewed the first stage of production—cultivation. In the following articles, we will detail other stages: harvesting and stripping the cones, planting new plants, as well as further storage and processing of hops.

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