Loudoun farm to become largest hopsyard and processing plant in Virginia

Governor Terry McAuliffe announced Nov. 21 that Black Hops Farm, LLC will initially convert 15 acres of former pasture land into a hopsyard and build a new processing facility, thus becoming the largest hopsyard in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic’s first commercial-scale hops production and processing facility. 

The new Black Hops Farm facility will revolutionize the hops industry in Virginia, allowing hops growers to harvest and process efficiently their hops for market, a news release from the governor’s office said.

The new processing capacity will enable existing Virginia producers to move assuredly in expanding their production and will encourage new producers to enter the market by removing key barriers to the profitable production and marketing of local hops. 

In addition to supporting current and prospective hops producers, the facility will benefit Virginia’s craft brewery industry as a whole by increasing the amount of hops produced in the state, as well as their quality and their ability to be used by a greater number of brewers.

At Black Hops Farm, Governor McAuliffe was quoted as saying, “I am pleased to announce that Virginia, thanks to this important investment by Black Hops Farm, will be home to the first commercial-scale hops processing operation in the Mid-Atlantic region.  This is a significant win for the Commonwealth as it fills a critical need for current and future craft brewers and builds on my administration’s efforts to increase Virginia’s position in the fast growing craft beer industry.  In addition, this entrepreneurial venture is an excellent example of the important role that our diverse agricultural industry can and will play in my economic development strategic plan to build a New Virginia Economy.”

The company, providing important hops processing services for the entire region, will invest about $1 million, create 11 new jobs in Loudoun County, and source more than 60 percent of their hops from Virginia over the next three years.  The Commonwealth of Virginia is partnering with Loudoun County and Black Hops Farm on this project through the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID).

Todd Haymore, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, was quoted as saying,  “This project enhances the Commonwealth’s position in the industry, which had an economic impact of just under $625 million last year, by promoting the research and production of hops, a huge potential cash crop for our agricultural producers.”

Black Hops Farms will invest in the site improvements, buildings, and equipment needed to convert the former residence and horse farm into a commercial hops production and processing facility.  A key role for the new processing facility will be to provide hops for Commonwealth Gin, as it is one of the important botanicals used in the production, so it can eventually be a 100 percent Virginia-sourced spirit.

Jonathan Staples of Black Hops Farm was quoted as saying. “Our collaboration with Solomon Rose and Organarchy Hops from Maryland has already made this a regional hops project with the benefit of their skills, expertise, and knowledge of the industry.  The Governor’s leading role in projects as large as Stone in Richmond, to our facility in Lucketts, makes clear to us that the state is committed to being a major player in the beer and spirits world and has allowed us to accelerate this project by several years. With so many farmers already growing hops across the state, we’re hoping that we can play a part in making Virginia the hops capital of the East Coast.”

In supporting the AFID grant to Black Hops Farm, LLC, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Vice-Chairman Shawn Williams said, ““This type of agricultural business exactly fits the Board of Supervisors’ Rural Economy Business Development Strategy, and will contribute to the economic vibrancy of Loudoun County.”