View source for Notes From an Aspiring Brewmaster - All About Hops!

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''Author'': [[Madhar al'Thera]]<br>
''Published'': May 14 2021 [https://blog.tarvalon.net/?p=2937 Tar Valon Times Blog Link]<br>
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''“The hop for his profit I thus do exalt,''<br>
''It strengtheneth drink and it flavoureth malt;''<br>
''And being well-brewed long kept it will last,''<br>
''And drawing abide, if ye draw not too fast.”''<br>
''-Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry by Thomas Tusser, 1557''<br><br>


Last time we had a brief overview of what beer is and how it’s brewed, but I’d like to dive a little deeper into one of the components that provides most of your sensory experience when drinking beer — hops. As we learned last time, hops provide much of the taste and smell we get from a beer. But what are they exactly?<br><br>
 
Hops are the flowers of the hop plant. The hop plant is a member of the Cannabaceae family of flowering plant which also includes 170 other species, most notably, cannabis. Hop vines grow up to 25-30 feet tall, supported by a trellis and are grown all over the world. The top hop producing countries include the United States (113 million pounds annually), Germany (106 million pounds annually), and China (15.5 million pounds annually). Only female hops are used in production so you will typically only find those planted in hop fields. Similar to grapes grown for wine, the location in which hops are grown will effect their characteristics. Our first mention of hops being cultivated occurred in the modern day region of Bavaria in Germany in 736, but we don’t have any documentation of them being used for brewing until 1079.<br><br>
 
Now we will look at the chemical composition of hops as it relates to beer. The first, and main component, are alpha acids. Alpha acids are released during boiling and are responsible for the bitter taste of beer. Modern hop varieties typically are 8%-19% alpha acid. Next we have beta acids that contribute to the aroma of the beer. Hops also have essential oils that provide the pungent aroma that fresh hops give off and, through chemical reaction during brewing, contribute to the aroma also. So to flavor your beer, you want to pick hops with high alpha acids and add them during the boil. They will boil for at least an hour, releasing those acids and adding flavor to the beer. To influence the aroma, you will want to add hops with a lower alpha acid content (typically around 5%), and they are added at the tail end of the boil to prevent the evaporation of essential oils that aid in creating the aroma. There are some hop varieties that can be used in both roles as well.<br><br>
 
As mentioned above, Germany is still responsible for growing a large portion of the world’s hop supply, providing us with the Noble hops. Noble hops are known for low bitterness and high aroma. They are original hop varieties that were grown in Europe. They have equal amounts of alpha and beta acids (about 5%) and are still used to brew traditional European beers like pilsners and lagers today. They can only be called Noble if they are grow in the same place they originated. For example, if you grew one of these types in the United States, it would not be considered a Noble hop.<br><br>
 
While mainly used for beers, hops are used in herbal teas and soft drinks. They can help with restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia. They also have natural antibiotic properties. Young shoots of the hop vine can even be eaten and cooked like asparagus.<br><br>
 
So there we have it. Everything we need to know about hops as we dive deeper into the wonderful world of beer.<br><br>

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[[Category:2021 Tar Valon Times Content]]