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What are hops?written by: - 206 viewsHops are flowers that grow on vines and are used as a flavoring or bittering agent in beer.The hop plant is a type of vine, usually grown in a field. Hops contain several characteristics favorable to beer, including bitterness, citrus, and herbal aromas. Many different types of hops are grown by farmers all around the world. The effect of hops on the finished beer varies by type and use, though there are two main hop types: bittering and aroma. Bittering hops have higher concentrations of alpha acids, and are responsible for the large majority of the bitter flavor of a beer. Aroma hops usually have a lower concentration of alpha acids (~5%) and are the primary contributors of hop aroma and (non-bitter) flavor. Bittering hops are boiled for a longer period of time, typically 60–90 minutes, in order to maximize the isomerization of the alpha acids. They often have inferior aromatic properties, as the aromatic compounds evaporate off during the boil. Flavors and aromas are described appreciatively using terms which include "grassy", "floral", "citrus", "spicy", "piney," "lemony," and "earthy".Most of the common commercial lagers have fairly low hop influence, while true pilseners should have noticeable noble hop aroma and certain ales can have high levels of bitterness. See our hops list. |
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