Goddards' brewer Nigel Eldridge, left, with head gardener Chris Kidd.
VOLUNTEER hop pickers enjoyed the fruits of last year’s labours this week.
As they turned up to pick the hops from the vines at Ventnor Botanic Garden, they were able to get a taste of Hoppiness, the beer brewed by Goddards from last year’s harvest.
In all, the First Gold and Boadicea hops were used to produce 58 casks — about 4,000 pints — of beer.
Picking and using local hops turned the clock back to when the Island was a producer of the ingredient, which is used to give beer its bitter tang.
Hops were only planted at the botanic garden last year and this year estimates put the yield at four times that of the first pick. Thirty Friends of Ventnor Botanic Garden formed the bulk of the volunteer labour force.
"It was a trip back in time for two of them who had happy memories of their families travelling from London to Kent for hop-picking holidays," said Goddards brewing associate director Richard Harvey.
"It was a nostalgic vision of how things used to be and will contribute to a much bigger brew of real Island ale next year.
"I’m bound to be biased but I am really pleased with the balanced taste, colour and aroma of the beer.
"Hops were added at four stages of the brewing process and Boadicea has added a citrus, lemon-mint style to the beer," he added.
Reporter: richardw@iwcpmail.co.uk