Beer Fundamentals - What are hops? - Allagash Brewing Company (2024)

FAQs

What are hops in beer? ›

Hops are the green cone-shaped flowers, or “inflorescence,” of the Humulus lupulus plant. They're a climbing perennial with a distinct jackpot for craft brewers. Hidden inside each cone are tiny yellow pods or glands called lupulin—the source of bitterness, aroma, and flavor in beer.

Aroma: “Very light wheat with notes of coriander and a little bit of hop spice blended with slight sweetness and subtle hop notes. Mainly coriander and pepper notes.” Flavor: “Moderate sweetness with a strong bittering finish.

The result was that we can confidently say that Allagash White is the most-awarded Belgian-style witbier in the world. At all three festivals, Allagash White has earned 9 Gold medals, 3 Silver medals, and 5 Bronze medals—17 medals in all.

Beer isn't like milk. With age, it doesn't actually expire or become unsafe to drink. Old beer's taste, however, will absolutely change. But stored properly, an old beer's effect on your body won't be different than a freshly packaged beer.

Yes, the flavonoids present in hops, particularly xanthohumol, have shown potential as anti-inflammatories and antioxidants in various studies. Though these findings are promising, more extensive research is necessary to conclusively determine their effectiveness and potential use in health applications.

Grains of Paradise

This is allegedly the secret spice used to make Allagash White. I have never used Grains of Paradise to brew my Witbiers. From my readings, this spice provides flavors of cardamom, coriander, citrus, ginger, nutmeg, juniper, citrus, and pepper.

Sometimes simply called “pils”, the German-style pilsner is a light-bodied and highly attenuated lager brewed from barley malt.

Allagash White is the most-awarded wheat beer in the world. And as of its silver medal win at the Great American Beer Festival in 2024, Allagash Tripel is also the most-awarded beer of its style.

Corona is the most popular beer brand in the United states, followed closely by Bud Light. The two brands are also neck-and-neck in terms of brand awareness and consumption share.

Snow: Another Chinese beer, Snow is the best-selling beer in the world by volume. It's a light and refreshing lager that has a loyal following in its home country. Bud Light: The lighter version of Budweiser, Bud Light is also incredibly popular and is the best-selling beer in the United States.

What is the best beer sold in America? ›

While Modelo currently tops the charts for off-premise sales in the U.S., Guinness snagged the number one spot based on likability — it appears the smooth Irish stout has a pretty universal, timeless appeal.

Canned beer tends to have a longer shelf life than bottled beer due to better protection from sunlight, which can degrade the flavor over time. Bottles also have a seal that can wear down over time, allowing air to get in. A good rule of thumb is to consume your craft beer within six months of purchasing it.

If you look on the back of a beer, wine or cider bottle, you'll likely see a 'best before' date. This is different to a 'use by' date you'll usually see on fresh foods like meat and dairy products.

Is it ok for cold beer to warm up? Will that affect the flavor? Shouldn't I just buy warm beer if I have a long drive home? We're happy to report that letting cold beer come to room temperature has no effect on its flavor.

Hops are the flowers, or cones, of a plant called Humulus lupulus. Hops help to keep beer fresher, longer; help beer retain its head of foam—a key component of a beer's aroma and flavor; and, of course, add “hoppy” aroma, flavor, and bitterness.

Until the 17th century, hops weren't allowed in English ales, and Germany didn't require hops in its official brewing laws until 1906. For many centuries, a vast majority of the beer made around the world used other spices and botanicals for flavor. That kind of botanical beer is called a gruit (pronounced groo-it).

Hops are also used in brewing for their antibacterial effect over less desirable microorganisms and for purported benefits including balancing the sweetness of the malt with bitterness and a variety of flavours and aromas.

New varieties of hops are always being developed, so the kaleidoscope of flavors they can offer continues to grow and expand. However, as a rule, hops add bitter flavors to beer along with a whole spectrum of aromatic notes that can range from woody, spicy, and earthy to floral, citrus, and fruity.