Chris
We are often asked “What are the most popular hops to use?“, and while it is a loaded question that needs qualifiers on beer style, location and personal preference, it is one that can be answered...
Why are Hops so Expensive?
Hops are expensive. They range anywhere from $2.50 per ounce to over $5 for coveted varieties such as Galaxy and Sabro. Certain beer styles – such as New England IPAs – regularly require up to 2 ounces of...
The Rise and (Eventual) Fall of the CTZ Hop
CTZ is an acronym for Columbus, Tomahawk, and Zeus, three trade names owned by various private corporations for what is essentially the same variety of hop. CTZ ranks among the most widely grown hops in the United...
Highest Alpha Acid (AA%) Hops
Alpha acids (α acids) are chemical compounds of the Humulus lupulus (or hop) plant. These acids are found in the resin glands of the flowers of the hop plant and are the source of hop bitterness. Alpha acids mostly...
Highest Cohumulone Hops
The primary bittering components of hops are the three alpha acids: Humulone, Ad-Humulone and Cohumulone. Combined, these three are collectively known as the alpha acid percentage (AA%) of the hop. Cohumulone levels are...
Your Hop Substitutions are Wrong!
Update: The first version of our data-driven hop substitute tool is here! The old hop substitution charts we’ve been using for years as home brewers are all wrong. I have a strong suspicion that most hop...
The United States of Beer
The United States of America is a diverse and highly unique country. We often see sharp differences from one state to another (ahem, Red v Blue), and it is no different when looked at through beer goggles. Craft beer...
The Top 15 Hop Producing Countries in 2020
The majority of the world's hop production is concentrated between both the northern and southern 35th and 55th parallels.
Analyzing the USA Hop Production Statistics of 2019
In January 2020, Hop Growers of America released their 2019 Statistical Report on the state of hop growing and production in the United States. The 2020 report should be due out in January 2021. The report as full of...
The Most Common Hops Used in IPAs (2020 Edition)
If you’ve read this site for long enough, it should have become obvious that I love IPAs. Well, I am also obsessed with the hops that go into them. As I started to brew my own beers and stretch into creating my...
Understanding SRM and Lovibond Beer Colors
Every item added to your beer will change its color slightly. Since grains are by the largest percentage, it is expected that they have the most impact on your final beer’s color. Most grains in their unmalted and...
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