Oasts

An oast, also known as an oast house, is a building designed for kilning (drying) hops. Hops are a crucial ingredient in brewing beer, and they require careful drying to preserve them for later use. Oasts are characterized by their distinctive conical roofs, often called cowls, which are designed to allow air to circulate and vent the moist heat from the kilning process.

The typical oast house structure consists of a kiln room at the top, where the heat source (historically a furnace) and the drying floor are located. Below the kiln is usually a storage area. The hop bines, once harvested, were brought into the oast and spread thinly on a slatted floor. Hot air was then directed upwards through the hops, drying them out. This process needed to be carefully controlled to avoid scorching the hops, which would ruin their flavor and aroma.

Many oast houses are found in hop-growing regions of England, particularly Kent, Sussex, and Surrey. Over time, as hop cultivation declined in some areas and brewing practices evolved, many oast houses fell into disuse. However, their unique architecture has made them popular for conversion into residential homes, restaurants, and other businesses. These converted oasts often retain their characteristic conical roofs, serving as a visual reminder of their historical agricultural purpose. The distinctive silhouette of an oast house is a recognizable feature of the rural English landscape.