What are hops? Sierra Nevada explains

You’ve probably heard of hoppy beer, but what does that mean? What are hops? Technically hops are the flowers, or “inflorescence,” of the Humulus lupulus plant. They are a climbing perennial with a distinct jackpot for craft brewers. Hidden inside each green flower cone are tiny yellow pods or glands called lupulin—the source of bitterness, aroma, and flavor in beer. Hops grow best in moderate climates with rich soil and abundant sunshine. Those ideal regions generally sit at similar latitudes on the world map, both northern and southern. At the Sierra Nevada brewery in Chico, Calif., we maintain 10 acres of certified-organic Estate hops, but the grueling summer heat and spotty rain pose big challenges. The Pacific Northwest is more favorable for hops with its milder weather and reliable precipitation. Other notable hop producers include Germany, Czech Republic, and New Zealand.

Because of its bitter quality, craft brewers are after the lupulin inside hop cones. Those sticky yellow glands contain resin that contributes the bitterness to beer which helps balance the sweetness of malt. Within the hop resin are acids that aren’t very soluble in water, so when brewers need to extract bitterness, they add hops during the kettle boil (the “hot side” of brewing) to release the hops’ bittering qualities. The aromatic essentials oils from the hops, however, are far more volatile and can boil away quickly. So, when specific aromas and flavors are the goal, brewers often add hops into the “cold side” of the process (i.e., during or after fermentation). Some varieties of hops are excellent for bittering (e.g., Citra hops in Hazy Little Thing IPA, or Columbus hops in Dankful IPA). Others have signature aromas and flavors that brewers mix and match like spices in the kitchen.

Hops offer such versatility to craft beer, with brewers able to dream up almost any flavors and bring them to life—invoking tropical fruits, fragrant flowers, herbal tones (think tea), freshly cut grass (really), and more. When you track the evolution of India Pale Ale (IPA), you see that American craft brewers especially have enjoyed pushing hops to their limits. This began more than 40 years ago, when Ken Grossman first introduced Pale Ale, he remembers “probably 90 percent of [people] or more hated it.” But it went on to spark a revolution, and today the IPA is by far the top style within craft beer. Hops lead the way, and at Sierra Nevada we’re loving it. To learn even more, read our full blog post on hops here: What Are Hops? | Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.