Hop Bee Honey is a small apiary located on one of the seven hills in Franklin, CT. We began with two hives and as it is the way with bees, grew larger. Our bees forage over three different locations, all within four miles.

We are proud of our “single source” seasonal honey. Honey varies based on the nectar source; so in our zone of New England, spring honey is light in color and floral/ grassy in flavor. The major nectar source for this time of year is the dutch clover that can be seen popping up in yards. Our bees forage over 100 acres of hayfield, so we really believe that they are bringing in the essence of the land around their hives and the taste is evident in the honey. In autumn, the honey is darker brown and more citrusy/ herbal tasting and this is due to the goldenrod that the bees are foraging on that grows on the edge of the fields.

We also are the only makers of hop- infused honey. As craft brew fans, we wanted to honor the citrus notes of hops with the sweetness of honey. The result is a slightly less sweet honey that tastes like a perfectly balanced pale ale. We enjoy this unique honey on a cheese plate or in a honey barbeque sauce on chicken wings.

We are committed to the health of our hives and the education about honey bees. You can read more about our apiary in the summer issue of the Connecticut Food & Farm Magazine.