More than 60 people showed up to hear what Heidi Dunkelberg had to say about growing hops during an informational workshop Tuesday night at Haywood Community College.

Dunkelberg was surprised by the large turnout but pleased to see so many people interested in her idea — creating a viable hops industry in Haywood County.

Hops are the flowers of a plant that make up one of four ingredients used to make beer in addition to water, barley and yeast. Hops provide the aroma and bitterness in beer, and these days, growing hops is big business, especially in the western U.S. But Dunkelberg is trying to bring the hops industry, and the opportunities that could come with it, to the mountains of North Carolina.

“I know some day Haywood County is going to be known for growing hops, but it’s just got a ...