Planting Pumpkin Patch Ale, one seed at a time

The clouds parted this week above Rogue Farms just long enough for us to hand-plant 231 Dream Pumpkin starts and direct seed another 386.  We put out a call to our fellow Rogues and as usual they came to help get the job done.

Each Dream Pumpkin start was hand-transplanted.

Rogue Ales Brewmaster John Maier knew he wouldn’t be able to craft a world-class pumpkin beer without world-class ingredients. He refused to use any canned, frozen or pureed pumpkins, so we began growing John pumpkins for Pumpkin Patch Ale in 2012.

Dream pumpkins in the foreground of the hopyard.

This year we tried something a little different. We planted both starts and seeds to see if we can get a jump on pumpkin season. We can’t control when the sweet pumpkins will ripen or when we’ll be able to harvest, but we do know that it’ll be worth the wait. When you collaborate with Mother Nature to grow beer, you put yourself at her mercy.

In a row of Independent hops, another ingredient in Pumpkin Patch Ale.

Just as we wrapped up planting yesterday the clouds began rolling in over the Coast Range. They’re giving our freshly planted pumpkins a good soaking of Oregon rain to help them on their journey from ground to glass.

Join us at Rogue Farms this spring and see for yourself how we grow beer, spirits, ciders and sodas.