Page 13 - Trending Magazine 2018 Winter

Hoppy Farm_Layout 1 18-12-04 2:35 PM Page 3

The trellis built by Lyn and Randy Tye at their farm Randy Tye explains how he plans to try out pelleting his hops this
near Boissevain. (Michael Lee) winter. (Michael Lee)

The Tyes use a drip irrigation system and a “We’re very proud and excited that they’re finding
targeted pesticide for aphids, as well as t-shaped that we can grow great hops and they’re
poles to form their trellis, which helps maximize the appreciative of it,” he said.
amount of space they have to grow. His and Lyn’s entry into the brewing scene also
But what makes Prairie Mountain Hops unique is comes at a time when overall beer sales have
their wet hops, which instead of being dried are dropped globally in recent years, but craft beer has
pulled straight from the vine and put into a batch in gained in popularity.
order to extract as much flavour as possible. According to Manitoba Brew Hub, a webpage run
Doing so means early mornings and long drives for by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, craft beer is the
Randy, but the Tyes’ efforts seem to have paid off, fastest growing beer segment in the province, with
with their hops having been used in batches of Canadian craft-style beers making up approximately
Torque Brewing’s Finish Line IPA and Half Pints’s 12.5 per cent of all beer litre sales.
Fresh Hop Harvest Ale. “Back when I was growing up, the thing was you
“It’s a busy day for him that’s for sure,” said Chris took a two-four of beer under your arm to the fire
Young, head brewer at Half Pints, “but it got us some pit party. Those days are gone,” Randy said.
really nice hops freshly delivered.” “People are now buying sleeves of beer that there’s
The Tyes recently bought a pelleter, which they three different varieties in there, they’re talking
hope to test out this winter in the hopes of selling about it, they’re trying it. It’s brought, actually, a lot
pelleted hops that can be packaged and stored. of women back to the beer drinking industry,
“Going forward, I’m certainly interested in using because they have something different, compared
more of his product, both pelletized and whole leaf to just the same old, same old.”
hops,” Young said. Just as people care about where their food comes
“... And so far, what I’ve seen from his stuff, I have from, Randy believes the message of buy local has
no doubts.” extended into the craft beer market as well, and he
For Randy, driving out to Winnipeg for a delivery doesn’t expect it to change any time soon.
has more to do with customer service than anything, “I don’t see that the desire of having local will
but it also gives him a chance to help create a change for a long time. I don’t see that.”
“masterpiece,” as far as brewing is concerned.

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