Guide Note

Hops are the flowers of the hop plant and are mainly use in the brewing of Beer, but also are used in herbal remedies. Hops provide beer with its bitter taste, but also has more practical effects: hops work to preserve the beer. The first documented use of hops in beer dates to the 11th century. A recent lack of production of hops has caused the price of the product to dramatically increase, thus increasing the price of certain beers that use a large amount of the flower.

Fast Facts

1. Botanical name: Humulus lupulus
2. Named by Pliny the Elder
3. Hop cultivation began in U.S. in 1629
4. Contain alpha and beta acids
5. Nobel Hops have a lot of aroma and little bitterness

Hops must be dried before they are able to be brewed in beer. Hops are used to both preserve beer and give certain brews their distinct, bitter flavor. If hops are added late in the brewing process, they add a very strong, bitt taste, coupled with a unique aroma. There are several varieties of hops that brewers use to perfect their lagers and ales.