The hop harvest is officially launched

Farmers have begun harvesting hops in their northern fields. This year, some breweries are inviting the public to join in the harvest.

If September is associated with the start of the school year, it is also an important harvest period in Flanders. During the ninth month of the year, the hops have reached maturity. Farmers therefore rush to harvest this precious aromatic plant in their fields at daybreak.

This year, the public is invited to take part in this moment by certain breweries, notably that of 3 Monts in Saint-Sylvestre-Cappel (North).

In total, between 1 and 2 tonnes of flowers will be harvested on site, which corresponds to 1.3 million bottles.

From the fields to the brewery

In the rows of hop fields, farmers are organized. Pierre Marchica, president of the brewers of the Region and general manager of the Brasserie 3 Monts, is on the ground.

“I cut the vines at the bottom so that the tractor can pass to detach them from the top of the hop field and put them in a trailer,” he explains to BFM Grand Lille.

The flowers will then be picked at the farm to be used in brewing, particularly the fragrant yellow powder it contains.

During their harvest, it is difficult for farmers to measure the quantity of hops recovered. “There are two indicators: the weight of the flowers and the richness inside, and we will know that in a few weeks,” he says. When the first bottles of beer can be tasted.