A single-hop beer sampler
of Rogue Farms Ale: from
left, Revolution, Freedom,
Liberty & Rebel Hop.
Hops-forward brews are perfect for draft service
By Lucy Saunders
mericans are in love with India pale ale (IPA), the
assertively hoppy beer style that highlights the bitterness
and aromatics of hops. If malt is the meat of a beer recipe, then
hops are the spices that brewers use for flavor and aroma. Served
on draft, single-hop beers sparkle with herbal, fruit and spice
character, ranging from citrus and tropical fruit to berries,
lemongrass and more.
Single-hop beers feature the flavor of just one hop cultivar,
to showcase the specific bittering and aromatics achieved. That
contrasts with traditional brewing technique, in which a brewer
uses one set of hops for bittering the beer during the boil, and
later adds another blend of hops for aromatics���typically during
fermentation and aging.
www.cheersonline.com
Most brewers still create beers such as IPAs with a blend
of hops. Popular bittering hops include Chinook, Cluster,
Northern Brewer, and Warrior, while aroma hops include
classic European varieties such as East Kent Goldings, Fuggles
and Hallertau. Some hops, such as Amarillo and Centennial,
can be used both for bittering and aroma.
With more than 100 hop varieties now in cultivation,
there���s a huge range available, but they���re not always available
in great quantities. Hops are a pricey and prized commodity.
A worldwide hop crisis from 2006 to 2007 demonstrated that
crops could be hit by shortages, depending on weather and
drought conditions. With many popular hops in short supply
in 2008, brewers began experimenting with hops from other
APRIL 2013 |
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