Frequently Asked Questions
BEER WINE
What are hops and what is their purpose? (Are there different varieties - if so, what do the differences mean to the end product?)
Hops are perennial vines. It is the flowers, or cones (they look like little green pine cones) that are used in the brewing process. Hops do many things for your beer. They provide bitterness to balance the sweetness of the malt. They provide flavor and aroma, some head retention qualities, and act as a preservative for your beer. There are many varieties of hops which have been bred and developed for various qualities. Some are very bitter, so the brewer does not need as much to provide a certain level of balance. Some are renowned for their particular flavor or aromatic quality. Think of hops as the spices used in cooking your beer. The most common form that home brewers use are pelletized - chopped up and compressed into small pellets - making them easier to store and measure. Whole leaf hops are also used, but take up much more space, and tend to oxidize faster.
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