| Brewing your own beer at home can be an amazing | | | | contributes a bitterness that balances the sweetness |
| experience. For one thing, it offers you the | | | | of the malt in the specific beer so you need to |
| opportunity to create a beer that suits your own | | | | choose wisely to achieve the final desired result in a |
| particular tastes exactly. The hobby of home beer | | | | beer. |
| brewing can also offer you the opportunity of | | | | In addition, each variety of hops will add a specific |
| making a beer that you can't get very easily where | | | | flavor or aroma to the beer you are brewing. For |
| you live. Home beer brewing also allows you the | | | | example, Ahtanum is described as being floral, citrus, |
| opportunity to choose the exact ingredients that will | | | | sharp, and piney, Northdown (U.K.) is described as |
| determine the final taste of your beer. But | | | | fruity with some spiciness while Chinook is described |
| sometimes selecting those ingredients can be a | | | | as having a mild to a medium-heavy, spicy, piney, and |
| difficult process. Take the ingredient of hops for | | | | grapefruity flavoring. Pride of Ringwood from |
| example. There are literally dozens of varieties of | | | | Australia is said to have a flavoring that is quite |
| hops available that you can choose from. How do | | | | pronounced and described as woody, earthy and and |
| you select the right one? What are the differences | | | | has even been described as herbal in flavor. As you |
| between varieties? In this article we will look at some | | | | can see, each of these hops has a specific |
| information on hops that will definitely help you to | | | | characteristic to add to your final beer taste. |
| pick out the right hops for the particular beer you | | | | While all this might seem to be a bit confusing at |
| want to brew at home. | | | | first, the good thing is that you will find charts |
| There are so many different kinds of hops that it | | | | available that will describe the alpha acid rating as well |
| can actually be a very confusing process at first. A | | | | as the aroma or flavor of each variety of hops. You |
| number of varieties are grown throughout North | | | | can also find charts that will describe exactly which |
| America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and | | | | hops are best for which variety of beers. You can |
| New Zealand that all have different properties. And | | | | visit your local home beer making store or you can |
| often these varieties of hops can be used in the | | | | look on the Internet for charts and information to |
| brewing of one or more types of beer. For example, | | | | help you select a specific variety of hops for your |
| the hops variety known as Tomahawk can be used | | | | next batch of home beer. Having this information |
| for home brewing an ale, Santiam can be used in | | | | available will aid you in selecting the right hops and |
| brewing a Lager, an American ale or a pilsner, | | | | even allows you the opportunity to experiment with |
| Hallertauer Mittelfrüh can be used in home brewing | | | | a variety of hops that will increase or decrease the |
| Lager, bock, wheat and maybe pilsner brews while | | | | bitterness you prefer in a home brew. Understanding |
| German Hersbrucker is a great hops for brewing | | | | how a particular variety of hops will taste will allow |
| lager, pilsner, bock or wheat beers. U.S. Northern | | | | you the opportunity of deciding on the exact flavor |
| Brewer hops is great for ESB (Extra Special Bitter), | | | | your beer will have in the final analysis. |
| bitter, English pale ale, porter as well as California | | | | There are some home beer brewing aficionados who |
| (steam) beer. | | | | prefer to try and grow their own hops rather than |
| There are a number of other things you need to | | | | get them from hops suppliers or from your nearby |
| consider when selecting your hops as well. You must | | | | home beer brewing hobby store. But if you decide to |
| know the alpha acid "rating" for the specific hops you | | | | try this yourself remember that it may take you two |
| are considering. This rating lets you know how much | | | | or three years to harvest a full crop. But this can |
| of the weight of the hops consists of alpha acids. | | | | definitely be another way of maintaining full control |
| Hops that contain a higher alpha acid content will add | | | | over another ingredient in your home made beer. |
| more bitterness to a beer than a low alpha hop when | | | | As you can see, hops are a major ingredient in beer |
| using the same amount of hops. | | | | and they provide much of the flavor and spice that |
| For example, Ultra has an Alpha Acid % of 2% to | | | | defines many different styles of beer. Don't be afraid |
| 4.1%, Centennial offers an Alpha Acid content ranging | | | | to experiment and to try a different variety of hops |
| from 8% to 11.5% while Admiral from the United | | | | to add to the final flavor of your home made beer. |
| Kingdom gives you an Alpha Acid content of 13.5% | | | | We recommend you take a new variety of hops for |
| to 16%. Ultra is only 2% to 4.1% in weight while | | | | a spin and create a beer that will take your friends (if |
| Satus goes from 12.5% to 14%. WGV (Whitbread | | | | not the world) by storm! |
| Golding Variety) from the U.K. is 5% to 7%. Hops | | | | |
