Interesting points about hops—I hadn't thought of that before. I was initially leaning towards kiwis myself, but your comment about them getting wild caught my attention. I'm trying to keep things manageable and budget-friendly, so maybe hops could actually work better.
Quick question though—how exactly do you get started with hops? Is it something you'd grow from seeds, or do you buy young plants? Also, do they need specific supports or trellises, or can you just let them climb whatever's handy? I'm asking because I'd rather not invest too much upfront if I can avoid it.
A friend of mine tried grapevines last year, and while they looked great at first, the maintenance ended up being more than he bargained for. He was out there pruning constantly, and the vines still got a bit unruly. Hearing that hops are forgiving if you skip pruning sessions is reassuring, especially since I tend to forget garden chores when life gets busy.
Also, that homebrewing angle is pretty intriguing. I've never brewed beer myself, but I have a neighbor who's always experimenting with different recipes. Maybe I could trade hops for some of his homebrew... could be a nice little bonus.
Anyway, appreciate the suggestion—definitely gives me another option to consider as I figure out what'll work best in my space.