Regulators run amok: Philly chops out brewery's hops garden

Philadelphia Brewing Company’s hops garden is in ruins after Philadelphia officials brought in a team of weed whackers to cut down more than six months of hard work. Even though the garden was fenced in right next to the brewery, and had a sign that explicitly explained that the brewery was growing the hops for its beer production this fall. …

The city had issued a notice of violation for overgrown vegetation. But the brewery was later told the notice was withdrawn after a city inspector verified that it was in fact a hops garden that the brewery was maintaining properly. “He came back out he said, ‘I get it. I see what happened, violation is closed. No fine. Case is closed and you guys are good,’” recalled Barton.

However, the city’s Community Life Improvement Program came back Tuesday and removed almost all the hops. A Philadelphia spokesman stated, “Regrettably, due to miscommunication and staff error, the hops were removed as they were initially marked as a violation as it appeared the lot was overgrown.”