As I’ve done for the last few years, Saturday morning I drove up to Moonlight Brewing to help out with picking the hops on Brian Hunt’s modest hopyard. It’s always a fun time, and harkens back to the time before hops began being picked by machinery. In those days, hop-picking was a community event, with entire families spending the day in the fields. When I told my own family my plans, my four-year old daughter Alice said she wanted to come along to pick hops, which warmed her father’s heart. So the day became “Take Your Daughter To Hop-Picking Day.”

Assistant brewer Jeff Barkley and Brian Hunt examine the hops trying to decide which to cut down next.

The yield was a bit spotty this year, with some varieties doing just fine, but others … not so much.

But they were still beautiful to look at in certain spots.

“Hmm, this one looks good.”

Cutting it from the bottom.

More beauties.

Checking out the hops.

A local friend checking out all the commotion.

And also watching Brian Hunt take away his shade.

J.J., the Thirsty Hopster, trying her hand at cutting down hops from the wire.

Hops remaining elusively on the wires above.

Circle time, picking the hops.

Brian bringing more hops for us.

As you can see, many of the hops were burned out by the intense heatwave we’ve been having lately.

Our hosts, Cindy and Brian.

Me and my daughter Alice, having her first hop-picking experience.

Though her output was modest, she seemed to really enjoy herself.

Brian, keeping his thirsty volunteers happy.