Hops are one of the most essential ingredients in brewing beer.
*Hops are the cones or flowers of a climbing plant called Humulus lupulus that belongs to the cannabis family. Hops contain a special gland called lupulin that imparts flavour, bitterness, and aroma to the beer. Apart from this, hops act as a natural preservative and help to increase the shelf life of beer.
Types Of Hops
Presently, there are 80 known hop varieties used for brewing various beer styles. They can be divided into two major varieties:
1. Bittering hops
These hop varieties contain high alpha acids that contribute to the bitterness in beer.
2. Aromatic hops:
Aromatic hops are high in essential oils that impart aroma and flavour to beer.
Brewers used bittering and aromatic hops in different stages of the brewing process to create a distinct bitterness, flavour and aroma in the beer.
The Role Of Hops In Beer
Bittering hops are added in the early boiling stage of the brewing process in order to impart bitter qualities in beer and balance the sweetness of the malt. Aromatic hops are added later in the boiling or fermentation stage to produce a specific aroma and flavour in the beer.
Besides contributing bitterness, adding flavour and providing aroma in the beer; hops play a crucial role in preserving the beer. It contains beta acids that act as a natural preservative and help to counteract the inevitable effects of spoiling bacteria during fermentation, and further keep the beer fresh for longer periods of time.