Hey BadDeacon,
My take on hops is,
#1 , Full sun, The hops that will grow here need all the sun they can get.
#2 , Plenty of water, With full sun and hot summer days, a tall skinny plant needs plenty of moisture to keep it hydrated.
#3 , Nutrients, A half dose of miracle grow twice a week will keep them happy.
#4 , Soil , Before planting, amend with plenty of compost, and if your dirt is heavy,(clay), add a good amount of sand in the mix. Also should have decent drainage, not to saturated with water as to cause rot.
#5 , Hope you like Cascade, because that is the best for growing here. It is as compared to other hops as Hercules is to Other mortals.
Hope this helps in getting started, if you have any questions on any of this, I'll do my best to give you a good and prompt answer.
---Mark F.---