Kent Green Hop Beer Fortnight, celebrates that special brew made with hops using fresh “green” hops – within 12 hours of them being picked.

Hops contain more than 80% moisture when picked and are traditionally dried before brewing – but with green beer that goes out the window. The beer made with the fresh hops has a characteristic taste because they contain oils which are normally lost during the drying process.

This year’s launch of the annual fortnight will be staged at the Canterbury Food and Drink Festival, on Friday, September 23.

There will be a green hop beer tent in Dane John Gardens. Brisket and pork ribs infused with green hop beer will be on offer.

Selected pubs throughout the county will also be stocking Kent Green Hop Beers and breweries in east Kent are holding an open day so you can try them for yourself.

Best to check if the beers are available if you’re making a special trip, however, as once a cask is open it only lasts around three days.

ON THE UP

Kent’s hopping heyday may be in the past, but hops are still very much in evidence across the county.

In fact the UK is growing 8% more hops than last year, with around half of that in Kent, with almost 2,400 acres now being grown.

In 1998 there were 13 commercially-grown British hop varieties but today there are 27.

Almost 30 breweries the length and breadth of Kent have been beavering away brewing up a batch of this year’s green hops beer. They include Tovil’s P & DJ Goacher, and the Musket micro brewery, in Linton, whose green hop beer is named Flash in the Pan.

TAKE A BREWERY TOUR

The East Kent Brewers’ Green Hop Open Day tour takes you around five breweries in a day to sample the county’s unique beers, celebrate the hop harvest and enjoy live music and morris dancing.

The breweries are Gadds, Goody’s, Wantsum, The Foundry and Canterbury Ales. For details visit kentgreenhopbeer.com.

Kent Green Hop Beer Fortnight runs from Friday, September 23 to Sunday, October 9.