Topic: Hops
Appreciating the Classic Hops
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThe classics are classics for a reason. Whether talking about books, music, or even beer, it is important to understand what the classics are and why they hold that special title. Classics broke the established mold, defined genres, and inspired imitators. In the world of beer, hops were the single most important ingredient that defined
Hop Creep Explained
FREEHop creep is a term that has been recently popping up in commercial craft brewing circles to describe increased attenuation following dry-hopping. Reports in brewing literature indicate that a small handful of
Hop Creep Explained, Backsweetening, and Maximizing Malt Freshness
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThe term “hop creep” is not to be confused with lupulin shift. The Wiz provides the current understanding of hop creep as well as how to maximize certain flavor components of beer.
Hop Shelf Life
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThis is a great question and brings up several things that need to be considered because hops do age when stored, and using hops that are past their prime for brewing is not the best plan for brewing great beer. Let’s start with when hops are harvested and what the date on the package really
Let’s Talk Hop Shop
FREELearn some of the basic terminology and jargon that surround hops and hopping.
Evolution of Late Hopping
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThe way in which craft brewers and homebrewers are utilizing their hop additions has changed dramatically over the last couple of decades. From hop bursting to hopstands, hopbacks to dry hopping, get in the know about all of the latest popular hopping techniques.
Hop Extracts – Advanced Brewing
FREEThese hop extracts roughly fall into two categories, those primarily intended to add bitterness and those where aromatics are the goal.
Hop Oast
FREEIf you have a green thumb, want the freshest hops, and want to know where the hops came from, the best thing you can do is grow your own. Having your own
Dry Hopping: Adding Bright Hop Character
Digital and Plus Members OnlyDry hopping beer is an age-old technique that is enjoying a great deal of attention in the current era where hop flavor and aroma can make or break a beer, especially hop-forward beers such as American pale ales and IPAs. We ask two award-winning professional brewers at the top of their game for advice and topics for homebrewers to think about when they approach a dry-hopped beer.
Save Your Hops for Post-Boil
FREEOutside of bittering additions, adding hops during the boil is inefficient as many of the essential oils and positive attributes being sought are lost to heat. Instead, save those hops for whirlpooling or dry hopping.
IBUs: Modern Beers with Old Formulas – Advanced Brewing
Digital and Plus Members OnlyWhile these approximations are reliable enough for classic hopping techniques and amounts, hopping has evolved to be more varied and aggressive.
Calculating IBUs
Digital and Plus Members OnlyIn alcoholic beverages, maltiness is usually balanced by another flavor. In wine (and some styles of beer), maltiness is balanced by acidity. In most styles of beer, maltiness is balanced by the bitterness of the hops. The level of bitterness in beer can be expressed as International Bitterness Units (IBUs). IBUs can be calculated using