What Are Hops?

The Quick Answer

Hops are the flowers of the hop plant (Humulus lupulus) and are one of the four main ingredients in beer. They add bitterness to balance malt sweetness, create flavour and aroma, and help preserve the beer. Different hop varieties can contribute everything from citrus and tropical fruit to pine, spice and earthy notes.

If you've ever enjoyed a crisp lager, a fruity pale ale or a big hoppy IPA, you've got hops to thank for it.

They're one of the most important ingredients in beer, yet they're often the least understood by new brewers.

So what exactly are hops, and why do brewers get so excited about them?

Let's dive in.

What Are Hops?

Hops are the flowers (or cones) of the hop plant, Humulus lupulus.

They might not look like much at first glance. Small, green and a little bit leafy. But don't let appearances fool you. These little cones are packed full of oils, resins and compounds that have a huge impact on the flavour of your beer.

In fact, if malt is the backbone of beer, hops are the personality.

They grow on tall climbing bines (that's bines, not vines) that can reach several metres high during the growing season. Originally cultivated in Europe, hops are now grown all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Today there are hundreds of hop varieties available, each bringing its own unique flavour and aroma to a beer.

What Do Hops Do In Beer?

Hops have three main jobs in brewing:

1. They Add Bitterness

Beer made from malt alone would be incredibly sweet.

Hops provide bitterness that balances that sweetness and gives beer structure and drinkability.

The bitterness comes from compounds called alpha acids. During the boil, these alpha acids are converted into the bitterness we taste in the finished beer.

Without hops, most beers would taste a bit like sugary breakfast cereal.

2. They Add Flavour and Aroma

This is where hops get really interesting.

Different hop varieties can contribute an incredible range of flavours and aromas including:

• Citrus

• Tropical fruit

• Pine

• Stone fruit

• Floral notes

• Spice

• Earthy characters

• Berry flavours

That grapefruit aroma in your favourite IPA?

Probably hops.

Those passionfruit and tropical fruit notes in a hazy pale ale?

Definitely hops.

That subtle floral character in a pilsner?

You guessed it - hops.

The variety you choose and when you add it during brewing can dramatically change the character of your beer.

3. They Help Preserve Beer

Before refrigeration existed, brewers discovered that hopped beers stayed fresher for longer.

Hops contain natural antimicrobial compounds that help protect beer from spoilage and unwanted bacteria.

They're not a substitute for good cleaning and sanitation, but they do provide an extra layer of protection.

So not only do hops make beer taste better, they also help keep it that way.

What Do Different Hops Taste Like?

One of the best things about home brewing is experimenting with different hop varieties.

Some of the most popular flavour profiles include:

Popular Australian and New Zealand hops such as Galaxy, Eclipse, Nelson Sauvin and Nectaron are famous for their bold fruit-forward flavours.

Traditional European hops tend to be more subtle, offering floral, spicy and earthy characteristics.

Neither is better than the other - it simply depends on the style of beer you're trying to make.

How Do You Use Hops In Home Brewing?

There are a few ways to add hops to your beer.

Adding Hops During The Boil

If you're brewing all grain, hops are typically added while the wort is boiling.

The timing of the addition affects what the hops contribute:

• Early additions create bitterness.

• Mid-boil additions add flavour.

• Late additions add aroma.

Think of it like cooking with herbs. Add them early and they blend into the dish. Add them right at the end and they jump out of the glass.

If you're brewing with an extract kit or Fresh Wort Kit, most of the bittering additions have already been done for you.

Dry Hopping

Dry hopping is where things get fun.

This involves adding hops after fermentation has started, usually towards the end of fermentation.

Because the hops aren't boiled, you get loads of fresh hop aroma without adding much bitterness.

This is how brewers create those intensely aromatic pale ales, hazy beers and IPAs that smell like someone has squeezed a basket of tropical fruit into the fermenter.

A small dry hop of 15-20g can add a subtle lift to a beer, while larger additions of 50-100g or more can create a serious hop bomb.

Can You Eat Hops?

Technically, yes.

Should you?

Probably not.

Fresh hops are extremely bitter and aren't particularly pleasant to chew on.

They're much better at doing what they were designed to do - making great beer.

One important note: hops are toxic to dogs, so keep them well out of reach of your furry brewing assistants.

Hop To It

Hops are one of the most exciting ingredients in home brewing.

They're responsible for the bitterness that balances your beer, the aromas that jump out of the glass and many of the flavours that make different beer styles unique.

The best way to learn about hops is to experiment.

Try a small dry hop addition. Brew the same recipe with a different hop variety. Mix and match combinations.

You'll quickly discover that a simple hop change can completely transform a beer.

And that's part of what makes home brewing so much fun.

Want to start experimenting?

Check out our range of hop varieties available by the gram, or download our handy hop guide to help choose the perfect hop for your next brew.