Hops
Hops- Before hops were used in beer, many types of herbs were added to balance out the sweetness of malt. The introduction of hops changed the flavor of beer forever. Hops not only add bitterness needed to balance the malt, but also act as a natural preservative, increasing your beer's shelf life.
Bittering hops are hops that are used to add bitterness to beer. Although any hop can be used as a bittering hop most often hops with a high "alpha" are used. Alpha is an index of hop bitterness. The higher the alpha number, the greater the bitterness of the hop. All current alpha ratings are printed on the package. High alpha hops allow the brewer to use less ounces to obtain bitterness. We have found that "step hopping" or adding hops in intervals during the brewing process can add a smoother and less harsh bitterness.
Aroma hops are added at the very end of the boil to give beer its hoppy aroma. Any hop again can be used for aroma but some are better suited than others. It is difficult to describe some of the aromas that are given by different hop varieties so we encourage you to experiment and find which hops you enjoy.
Pelletized hops are the most common form used in both commercial and home breweries. Air will deteriorate the quality of hops quickly and reduce their effectiveness. By pelletizing, hops are exposed to less air, prolonging freshness. All of our hops come in oxygen barrier bags and are kept refrigerated. The B after a hop name indicates that it can be used for bittering. An A after a hop name indicates that it can be used for aroma. These are suggestions, of course, and feel free to experiment.
Due to production shortfalls by hop producers some varieties are in short supply. For this reason, we reserve the right to limit hop purchases on an order by order basis. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.
(Suggested hop usage is indicated by B for bittering and A for Aroma.)
| Amarillo B - Good bittering hop for strong IPAs and Barlyeywines. Alpha: 8% to 11%. |
| Brewers Gold B - A English style bittering hop. Good for ales. Alpha: 8% to 10%. |
| Agentinian Cascade A/B - A nice aroma hop but not the same as US Cascade Alpha: 1% to 4%. |
| Cascade A/B - Signature hop in many American pale Ales, India Pale Ales and other hoppy beers. Alpha: 4.5% to 7%. |
| Centennial A/B - A popular bittering hop with a flora and citrus aroma. First known as "Super Cascade" when introduced Alpha: 9% to 12%. |
| Challenger A/B - Good for bittering with a nice spicy aroma if used for aroma. Great hop for ESB recipes. Alpha: 6% to 9%. |
| Cluster A/B - A popular well balanced bittering hop Alpha: 5% to 9%. |
| Crystal A/B -A great aroma hop with a more pungent aroma than Hallertau Alpha: 3% to 5%. |
| First Gold A/B -of British origina, a good dual purpose hop with a spicy aroma Alpha: 6% to 9%. |
| Fuggle A/B -A traditional aroma hop originally developed in England in 1875. Mild pleasant aroma. Alpha: 3% to 5%. |
| Galena A/B - An excellent high alpha bittering hop Alpha: 12% to 14%. |
| UK Goldings A/B - Signature hop in most British Ales, offers a slightly spicy aroma. Alpha: 5% to 7%. |
| Hallertau Select A -A low alpha aroma variety of Hallertau. A classic hop for many European ales and lagers. Alpha: 1% to 4%. |
| Liberty A/B -Mild slightly spicy aroma hop. A good choice for both lagers and ales. Alpha: 3% to 5%. |
| Perle A/B -Dual prupose hop used in many ale recipes. Alpha: 7% to 7%. |
| Saaz A/B- Primarily an aroma hop, but can be used as a bittering hop for recipes calling for low hop bitternes. Classic hop for pilsner and many European ales and lagers. Alpha: 3% to 4.5%. |
| Simcoe A/B- Similar to Cascade only with subtle pine aroma and a much higher alpha. Alpha: 11% to 14%. |
| Target B - Adds a very clean, sharp bitterness perfect for English Stouts and Bitters. Alpha: 10% to 12%. |