| Aside from malted barley and brewer's yeast, the | | | | during fermentation because of their mild antibiotic |
| key ingredient to which beer is given its distinctive | | | | properties. During the boiling period of the wort, |
| taste and aroma is hops. Hops are flower clusters of | | | | these hops are normally added at the beginning of |
| the female genus of the climbing hop vine plants | | | | the boil which may last between 60-90minutes. |
| belonging to the Cannabaceae family which also | | | | Although fresh hops are only mildly bitter, it is found |
| includes cannabis. Though not as potent and illegal, | | | | that the longer they are boiled for the more bitter |
| these hop cones are primarily used as a flavoring and | | | | they become and contribute towards the flavor in |
| stabilizing element when added to beer, though are | | | | the beer. This is because the essential oils of |
| also known to be used in various other beverages | | | | non-bitter qualities which are also responsible for the |
| and herbal medicines relating to anxiety and insomnia | | | | aroma and flavor of the hops evaporate off during |
| because of their relaxing properties. The hop vines | | | | the boil. |
| are cultivated upright normally being trained to grow | | | | The other types of hops are known as aroma hops. |
| along vertical strings in a hopfield, and there are many | | | | These in turn have higher concentrations of beta |
| different varieties grown by farmers worldwide, | | | | acids which can oxidize and result in giving the beer a |
| characteristic towards particular brews of beer. | | | | bitter aroma, and also higher levels of the essential |
| Before hops were being predominantly used in beer | | | | oils required for flavoring. These are often added at |
| brewing around the 16th century in Europe, brewers | | | | the end of the boil for a very short period of time in |
| were more prone to using a variety of herbs and | | | | order to prevent the premature evaporation of |
| flowers as a source of bitterness such as dandelion | | | | these properties. Aroma hops can also be added |
| and burdock. It was 11th century Germany where | | | | after the boiled wort has cooled in a technique |
| the first documented use of hops as a beer bittering | | | | known as 'dry hopping', and are normally used in a |
| agent was applied, and the first instance of cultivation | | | | hopback as an additional means to flavoring as well |
| being 8th century Germany. It wasn't until 1524 | | | | as filtration, providing it is fresh hops used in the boil |
| though before they were first grown outside the | | | | and not processed pellets. A term relating to some |
| central European region on a large productive scale in | | | | specialist aroma hops which traditionally originate from |
| England, and one hundred years later in North | | | | Germany are 'noble' hops, which of the four varieties |
| America. Germany to this day are still primarily the | | | | grown are all known by the same name as their |
| worlds largest producers of hops, although the United | | | | region of origin. |
| States do come in at a close second. | | | | Nowadays there are many variations of 'dual use' |
| The main purpose of hops in the brewing of beer is | | | | hops which can be used for both their aromatic and |
| to balance out the excessively sweet taste of the | | | | bitterness qualities and can be added to the boiling |
| malt by adding more bitterness which contributes to | | | | wort at any time depending on the brewer's desired |
| a variety of more desirable flavors, and also having | | | | effect. Most common commercial lager beers have |
| an antibiotic effect which benefits yeast activity over | | | | however a reasonably low hop influence, while it is |
| less desirable organisms. They are first dried before | | | | true pilseners that maintain a low bitterness with |
| being used in the brewing process, and although | | | | noticeable hop aroma distinguishable from the use of |
| there may be many different species grown which | | | | noble hops, and certain ales displaying a high level of |
| are found to be characteristic to their region in | | | | bitterness from having a greater hop content. Not a |
| relation to their flavor and properties, there are | | | | compulsory ingredient with the brewing of beer, but |
| basically only two main types of hops. | | | | certainly a favored one because of the hops unique |
| Bittering hops with their high concentrations of alpha | | | | properties, as beer sales worldwide can certainly |
| acids are responsible for the bitter taste found in | | | | display proof to that factor. |
| beer. These acids promote activity of brewer's yeast | | | | |
