[Steve]

I just harvested some interestingly long cascade hops today.  These are four of the longest cascades at about 2.375". 
What's the longest you've ever grown or seen?
I know, I know. it's not the length of the wand, but it's the magic you create with it that counts.

[beerocd]

I was just out looking at mine, thinking they were kinda jumbo sized too. Must be the global warming thingy people keep talking about.

[chezteth]

Wow, that is amazing!!  I'm still waiting for my cascade to be ready for picking.  I've never seen any that long.

[bluesman]

Beautiful hops!

I have a Cascade bine that has produced an abundance of hops cones but they are about three quarters the size of yours.

I wonder what effect size will have on the intensity of the AA's and bitterness/flavor/aroma they will lend to the beer?

[hopfenundmalz]

I did not measure any like that, and they are packaged in foodsaver bags, but my cascades were uniformly long this year.  Mostly as long as my thumb, and in past years it was some were as long as my thumb.  The Chinook is putting out long cones this year as well.  Here it is warm weather, rain that has been spaced nicely, and manure early and then fertilizer.

If you can find representations of the varieties on the net, Cascade is usually shown as a long cone compared to others.

[denny]

Last year I got some in the 3-4 inch range!  This year they're considerably shorter.

[BrewArk]

Wow, that is amazing!!  I'm still waiting for my cascade to be ready for picking.  I've never seen any that long.

I can't count the times I've heard that.

[gordonstrong]

I can't count the times I've heard that. 

I can't count to zero either.

[jptheelder]

mine look almost identical to that. this is the first year I have hops so I'm not sure what to think. my Chinook ( I got a few of them last year ) are also quite long. I'm hoping it just means more of the good stuff inside them.

[hopfenundmalz]

I had some huge cascades this year, but those are in the freezer.  The biggest Chinook is 4" long, and most are 3 inches or more.  Those should be harvested in a day or three.

[Steve]

Those who had long hops, what was your weather this summer?
In Central MA it was hot varying between 85-98˚F with dew points in the 75+ (very moist).  I watered by drip irrigation early and every other day for 20 minutes until the end of July and then watering just incidentally by the sprinkler for the vegetable garden.  I'm thinking that hot days, good watering early in the day and humid nights were the ticket.

[Steve]

I wonder what effect size will have on the intensity of the AA's and bitterness/flavor/aroma they will lend to the beer?

They smelled amazing while wet.  I'm oasting them in the oven on a sheet pan and rack with only the pilot light on for warmth. That gets a gentle convection going. I'll check the smell again tonight.

[hopfenundmalz]

The weather here in Southeat Michigan was fairly warm, but there have been hotter.  There were never any really dry stretches, and I watered if there was a couple days without rain. I had also put manure down in the early spring, and did some fertiliing during the summer.

[BrewArk]

We had an unusually cool summer here in No. CA.  With that, I was able to keep them from drying out at all.  Usually I have trouble when I leave for vacation & count on the kids to do the watering.  This year has been the best crop ever for the BrewArk 14oz (dry) of Cascade and 4oz Magnum plus a few Saaz for aroma.

As far as the "long" Cascade goes they were I'd guess 5% of the crop.

[hopfenundmalz]

The Chinook were harvested.  Come out to 3.5 inches when laid on the table.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jrankert/2010ChinookPics#5511286747993141202

Still on the bine.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jrankert/2010ChinookPics#5511286736472338290