Know your hops

July 1, 2:53 PMSuburban Philadelphia Craft Beer ExaminerMichael Hoster

It almost goes without saying... Hops are an essential element of beer production. In fact, when looking back to the original text of the Reinheitsgebot, beer was to be comprised of just water, barley and hops. Clearly, that rather antediluvian law no longer is the standard for contemporary brewing; however, to this day, the rudimentary importance of hops in beer has remained unchanged.

In the most basic sense, hops add bitterness, aroma and/or balance to a beer. Today, there are more than 25 major hop varieties found throughout the world in addition to dozens of lesser-known hybrid and clone species. Each hop variety demonstrates a different alpha-acid and beta-acid content that largely dictates how the hop tastes and how the hop is used in the brewing process. As a sweeping generalization, most high alpha-acid hops are used primarily to enhance a beer's bitterness and most low-acid hops are used primarily to enhance a beer's distinctive aromas. Finally, the longer hops are boiled in the wort, the bitterer and less aromatic they make the beer taste.

Now, without needlessly digressing into a lengthy conversation about the fundamentals of hops cultivation and the particulars of using hops in homebrewing, I want to provide you with a short list of my favorite hop varieties and their individual flavor profiles, as well as several craft beers that contain each respective variety.

• Saaz. Saaz is the quintessential noble German hops variety. It demonstrates a very low alpha-acid content and produces a subtle, earthy spice aroma. Saaz is used extensively in European pilsners and koelschen as well as American lagers and pilsners.
Aromatic enhancement.
Alpha acid content: 3.0%-4.5%.
Beers: Pilsner Urquell, Victory Prima Pils, Paeffgan Koelsch.

• Fuggles. Fuggles is used in many authentic English ales and porters. It demonstrates a unique, dry, earthy spice aroma as well as a very subtle bitterness.
Aromatic enhancement.
Alpha acid content: 4.0% to 5.5%.
Beers: Fuller's London Porter, Sam Adams Holiday Porter, Young's Double Chocolate Stout.

• Cascade. Cascade is the consummate American west coast hop variety. It is found in many American pale ales and American IPAs. Cascade demonstrates distinct hints of grapefruit and orange, with a mild floral aftertaste. And, when boiled in excess of 30 minutes, it produces a modest bittering effect.
Primarily aromatic enhancement.
Alpha acid content: 4.5% to 6.0%.
Beers: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Green Flash West Coast IPA, Lagunitas IPA.

• Chinook. Chinook is quite possibly my favorite hop variety to employ in homebrewing, because it can be used for either bittering or aromatic enhancement. Chinook is usually found in American IPAs and imperial IPAs as well as a handful of American imperial stouts. It demonstrates a very piney, herbal aroma that directly cuts through the semi-sweet taste inherent in high ABV pale ales. Also, if chinook is boiled in the wort in excess of 60 minutes, it produces a very sharp, woody bitterness.
Either bittering or aromatic enhancement.
Alpha acid content: 12.0% to 14.0%.
Beers: Russian River Pliny the Elder, Great Divide Hercules Double IPA, Pizza Port Hop 15.

• Simcoe. I love simcoe hops. It is big, bold and flavorful––wholly ideal for imperial IPAs. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to homebrew with it to date––but, that time is coming. Simcoe combines an intense citrus bouquet with a spicy, piney aftertaste. And like chinook, simcoe can be used for either bittering or aromatic enhancement, depending on when it is added to the wort.
Either bittering or aromatic enhancement.
Alpha acid content: 12.0% to 14.0%.
Beers: Weyerbacher Double Simcoe, Green Flash West Coast IPA, Mikkeller Simcoe Single Hop IPA.

• Columbus/Tomahawk. Columbus (also known as Tomahawk) is a high alpha-acid bittering hop that is used in many American ESBs, American IPAs, imperial IPAs and American imperial stouts. Like cascade, it produces a citrusy, yet spicy flavor.
Primarily bittering.
Alpha acid content: 13.0% to 17.0%.
Beers: Troegs Nugget Nectar, Bison Organic IPA, Bear Republic Racer 5.

With a few years of experience in beer tasting and homebrewing, you will be able to detect specific hop varieties in a given product. Some craft breweries, such as Troegs, Weyerbacher and Sierra Nevada, proudly advertise which hop varieties are used in their beers. Other breweries, such as Pizza Port and Lagunitas, refuse to reveal their "hopping secrets."

Later this year, I will author a few homebrewing articles that will provide tips on which hop varieties to use in various beer styles and precisely how and when to use them. Until then, you can satisfy most of your homebrewing hop needs at either www.keystonehomebrew.com or www.northenbrewer.com.