Composting Spent Hops

Composting Spent Hops

Composting spent hops is not new but until recently they were a material available to relatively few home composters. With the increased in craft brewers this has changed. Many bag their spent hops and made available for collection free of charge to anyone prepared to collect it. An offer frequently taken up by allotment societies and gardeners.

Spent Hops can be composted or used directly as a mulch they are nitrogen-rich.  To achieve the right C:N ratio a good quantity of Browns need to be provided and if the hops are provide/composted while wet they will need sufficient carbon rich material, such as shredded paper, sawdust or woodchip, to help absorb the water and prevent anaerobic decomposition. Compost junkie recommends 1 part spent grains/hops to 3 parts carbon material. (http://www.compostjunkie.com/can-i-compost-spent-beer-grains-and-hops.html)

Warning

Hops are toxic to dogs and while hop flowers have a bitter taste spent hops are likely to taste better. Details of symptoms can be found at  (https://wagwalking.com/condition/hops-poisoning) (http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/hops/) . Becuase of their toxicity  I do not recommend using them as a mulch or on an open compost heap, or bin, in any area to which dogs have , or might have, access.