About Hops

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Alongside Malt and yeast, hops are one of beers most important ingredients. Hops are the dried flower like bud that grows on a bine, similar to a vine, but instead of using roots to grow, a bine uses hair like structures to hang on to. There is a large variety of hops on the market, usually available in Whole leaf or pellets. Whole leaf, as the name suggests, is the entire hop bud and for taste and aroma, fresh hops are the best. Pellets are hops that are dried, powdered and pressed into a pellet form. These can be stored for possibly longer.

 

Each type of Hop gives a unique flavour and aroma, from being citrus to soapy to earthy. Key measurements in hops are bitterness units, Alpha acids and Beta acids. The balance of these give that unique Hop character to each beer. Added at different times during the brewing process, hops produce a myriad of flavours and aromas. As well as creating big flavours of citrus, pine and tropical fruit, the hops also act as a bittering agent. When added to the boil stage of brewing, they are known as bittering hops. The release of alpha acids, which come from the essential oils in the hops, produces the bitterness present in many Hoppy beers. They also add antibacterial qualities to the beer.

 

All hops are Foil Vacuum packed , have a Best before date and Alpha acid  content detailed on the package.