What Are Hops? And Why Are They Used To Make Beer?

You don’t have to be a beer connoisseur to know the importance of hops (Humulus lupulus) in creating a delicious, well-balanced brew. These leafy green plants are technically an herbaceous perennial with several traits that make it perfect for beer brewing. Of course, the hops need to just right to create the pleasing flavor and aromas that are commonly associated with a “good” beer. To learn more about the role hops play in beer brewing, keep reading.

It’s important to note that only the female variety of hops can be used to brew beer since they posses the fruitful cone-like flowers. The males are discarded during the harvesting to avoid any unwanted material ending up in the brewing mixture. You can easily distinguish the difference between male and female hop plants by looking for the cone-like flower (see image below). This is essentially where all of the flavors come from, which is why it’s used for brewing beer.

You might be surprise to learn that people have been brewing beer with hops for hundreds of years. In fact, the earliest known report of hops in beer dates back to the 11the century Germany! Hops was cultivated long before then, but it wasn’t until the 11th century when some unknown genius decided to brew beer with this flavorful plant.

HOPS’ FLAVORS

So, what makes hops such an integral step in the beer brewing process? Well, it contains all-natural oils with an exceptionally bitter taste. Some people might turn their head at the thought of a bitter-tasting beer, but hear me out: the bitter flavor of hops works to naturally counteract the malt’s extreme sweetness. When this occurs, it creates a more balanced flavor that most people will enjoy.

You can usually determine if a beer was made with too many hops from its flavor. If a beer tastes overly bitter, then it was likely brewed using too many hops. On the other hand, a super sweet beer mas probably not brewed with enough hops. There’s a happy medium that brewers must find to create the perfect beer.

Now that you have a better understanding on hops and the role they play in brewing, you are probably eager to start taste-testing. The next time you try a new beer, see if you can taste the hops’ oils and the flavors it creates. Knowing the importance of hops will allow you to enjoy your beverages just a little bit more. Besides, it’s always fun to pop random trivia questions about hops to your buddies.