Anyone who sends their name and address to AC Golden, which makes Colorado Native lager, by November 15 will get a hops rhizome -- most likely Cascade -- sent to them in April. The brewer will also mail planting and care instructions.
Then, once your hops cones form the following spring -- or the spring after that -- AC Golden will use them to brew a batch of its beer, which is made from 99 percent Colorado ingredients, including hops grown by Coors and the Coors family.
Growers can also use the hops in their own home brew. To participate, send an e-mail to [email protected]. If you're really into it, ask for two or three rhizomes.
AC Golden was formed two years ago as a beer incubator for its parent company and only makes brews for the Colorado market. It's located deep inside the Coors plant in Golden, with just four employees, who make and package all the beer themselves.In addition to Colorado Native, AC Golden makes Herman Joseph's Private Reserve and Winterfest, the storied Coors holiday beer, which just hit shelves this week.
So far, more than 200 people have responded to the call for hops, which went out on Colorado Native's Facebook page, says spokeswoman Aimee Valdez.
"It does take a few years for them to really get going, but you can get some the first harvest," she says, adding that AC Golden will set up "Hop Drop" events, where people can drop off their hops.
