Alright so I talked to Dad on the phone today and the whole fermentation thing came up, specifically Humulus Lupulus and its distribution in the states. So I got some info digging done and here is a Little of what I found.
There are two species of Humulus native to North Carolina, lupulus and japonica. We are only concerned with Lupulus, i don't think beer is made from the species japonica. The distinguishing characteristic between these two species is actually, big sigh of relief, not freaking unbelievably difficult to recognise. Its not some back ass screwed up botanical systematics nightmare attempt to be high and mighty characteristic. Count the lobes on the leaves, Lupuls spp. has three lobes, japonica spp. has 5-9 lobes. Now the species Lupuls has four varieties, two of which grow native one is introduced and the other species grows out west. I believe all three of the varieties in our area would be fine for brewing beer, and could make an interesting experiment as to which variety taste best. The varieties in our Area are:
Humulus lupulus var. lupulus
Humulus Lupuls var. pubescens
Humulus Lupulus var. Lupuloides

I used Gleason and Conquest's Manual of Vascualar Flora (second edition) for the tip between lupulus an japonica, also it gave a nice description of the families characteristics, so maybe we can keep an eye out for the vine. Here is the entry:

Rhizomatous perennial vine to 10 m; principal leaves as broad as long, cordate at base, 3- lobed to below the middle, the upper leaves often broadly ovate and lobe less, petiole shorter than the blade; staminate inflors 5-15 cm; pistillate spikes 1 cm, becoming 3-6 cm, the persistence, accrescent bracts entire and mostly blunt stramineous, very glandular at base; 2n = 20. Moist soil; N.S. to MA., Mont. and Calif., s to N.C., Ark,. and Ariz,. and widely distributed in the Old World. July, Aug, 5 geographically significant vars., 3 in our region.

Now Var. Lupulus i found is supposed to be a cultivar from Europe, but has escaped and is now introduced into our area. I am not sure if this means its native now, i think it might be naturalised by now. Var. Pubescens is in our area but this plant is more in the midwest of America. and the last var. Lupuloides grows east of the rocky mountains, i think this is the variety we are going to find the most easily.

ALOT more could be said, but i will leave that for later posts, i think this will arm us with an idea of what we should look for, oh ya and by the ways, we are looking for the female plants they have the goods! peace