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Hops 101
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Beer is made with four main ingredients: barley, hops, yeast and water. And yet, all the conversation lately is centered on the hops. The hop plant is a vine that produces a flower (called a hop cone) that is prized for the oils inside. It provides beer with aromas, flavor and bitterness. It also acts as a preservative, which was its original use in beer.
Beer is made with four main ingredients: barley, hops, yeast and water. And yet, all the conversation lately is centered on the hops. The hop plant is a vine that produces a flower (called a hop cone) that is prized for the oils inside. It provides beer with aromas, flavor and bitterness. It also acts as a preservative, which was its original use in beer.
Today there are more than 100 different types of hops used in beer, and each imparts its own unique flavors and aromas to the brew. Here are just a few examples of common hop varieties:
Galaxy: Fruity, with aromas of passion fruit and citrus; usually a late addition.
Mosaic: Floral and tropical, with fruity aromas; complex and versatile for a variety of profiles.
Citra: Citrusy, with herbal and tropical aromas; high alpha acid and oil content.
Centennial: Citrusy, floral and spicy aromas; one of the most popular hops in craft brewing.
Nugget: Earthy and herbal with mild, pleasant aromas; one of our favorites, of course!
The brewer can showcase just one type of hop in a beer, or, more often, a combination of several different hops provides complexity. It has even become common to see a beer named after the hop or hops used to make it.
Get a taste of what’s hoppenin’ with these fine brews that pay homage to the hop:
Knee Deep Citra Extra Pale Ale: This beer is a textbook example of why the citra hop is so popular. It features big citrus notes on the nose and a long, bitter hop finish from the high alpha acid content.
Bike Dog Mosaic Pale Ale: This brew features the telltale notes of mango, pineapple and passion fruit for which the mosaic hop is known.
Rubicon First Contact: The use of the galaxy hops in this beer provides a strong aroma of fresh-picked hops, with tones of citrus and passion fruit. You would expect an overpowering beer full of just hop flavor, but this one is actually beautifully balanced, with a crisp, dry finish.
Learn more about how hops affect the brewing process with our Daily Dish: Hop to It!
