Hops are referred to the
female cones that are found on the hop plant. More famous for their use in beer, they are also used in herbal medicine. They possess a unique taste which makes them an ideal ingredient in beer contributing to the sweet malt taste and at the same time balancing the sweetness and the bitterness of the drink. They also possess many fruity and different citrus like aromas which many people enjoy. Besides,
hops produce an antibiotic effect which inhibits the growth of less desirable micro organisms during the brewing of beer and promoting the growth of brewer’s yeast, a prime ingredient of beer.
There are many different varieties of the hop plant with each species contributing to a different taste in the drink. The
hop plant can grow all round the year and is mainly grown in parts of Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Ukraine and parts of the United States.
The hops have to be processed before they are used in beer brewing.
Hops resins mainly comprise of two types of acids. These are called alpha acids and beta acids. The alpha acids possess antibacterial effect and promote the action of the brewer’s yeast specifically inhibiting the growth of other undesirable bacterial agents. This promotes the fermentation of beer. Beta acids on the other hand have negligible effect on the beer’s flavor. Depending on when the hops are added to the beer, they produce the consequent aroma. For example,
hops added at the beginning stage of the beer brewing process impart bitterness to the drink. When they are added in the final stage, they impart a distinct hop aroma to the drink which many people enjoy.
In fact, so unique is the aroma imparted by the
hops to the beer, the drink is classified according to the stage at which the hops have been added and to what degree the drink has been flavored. European style beers have a strong
hop aroma due to the addition of noble hops. Noble hops are the names given to four varieties of hops grown in Europe.
Spalt is a traditional beer with a spicy aroma obtained by adding noble
hops. Saaz is another bohemian beer where the aroma is soft and the taste is very bitter. Some other varieties of
hop added beer include admiral, Apollo, Amarillo, brewer’s gold, Columbus, crystal, cluster, Chinook, glacier, goldings, Greenberg and lublin.
