10 Different Types of Beer Hops Used in Homebrewing

Even though there are more than 170 types of different beer hops, we managed to find the best ones to present to you. People from all around the world would kill to have some of these beer hops to brew their beers. However, some of them are only available in certain parts of the world and for a limited time throughout the year.

Let’s go on and elaborate more on the beer hop varieties that are now available and give you more chances to have a flavored beer.

Amarillo Hops

It is the main beer hop that is used in the United States to create the best bitter beer like the Pilsner ones. Amarillo got its name from Texas and is a famous city with some of the best Humanus plants.

Chemical analysis of the Amarillo hops will show you that there is an alpha acid range concentration that comes close to 8% to 11% per volume. You can use the Amarillo hops both as a pellet or whole hop, depending on the beer barrel you have and the quality you would like to have.

Apollo Hops

Apollo is one of the genetically remodeled beer hops that made its appearance only in the early 2000s. It came from the labs in the American countryside to ensure a higher alpha acid concentration that typically reaches 20% when measured in per-volume tests.

These hops are better for giving extreme bitterness to all beers, but it works a lot better with larger ones. If you overdo it with these hops, you can end up having an extremely bitter beer that would not be that pleasant to drink. However, when used moderately, it will give you the best possible effects.

Aurora Hops

Here we have a Slovenian type of beer hop that you can find in most Central Europe breweries. These Aurora hops are more likely to have a lower alpha acid concentration.

That gives you a chance to add it to sweeter beers just to break the sweetness of the mixture. When you want to have the best aromatic effects in your beer but also need it to taste like a beer, Aurora hops are the right pellets to add to the mixture.

British Kent Hops

British Kent hops are as ancient as the British crown is. We could say that they have been dominant in Kent Country in Central Britain since the 1790ies.

When tasting them in the beer, you can find the scents of lavender and fresh lemon with honey. They come from unique plants coming from English countries, and their alpha acids concentration remains lower than 6% giving a mild bitterness to your beer.

Cascade Hops

Cascade hops are more than abundant in the United States and Canada. You can find them in any brewery in the North American States and Canadian provinces. When you like to have a lager or pilsner beer with some fresh fruity notes and earthy scents, you can add it to your mixture.

The alpha acids are only in extra low concentrations that don’t overcome the 4.5% limit. If you like to perform dry hopping, you can add these beer hops in pellet form to your brewing barrel. It will give you the best quality beer with fresh aromas and wonderful tastes.

Crystal Hops

There is nothing better than trying to have the Crystal Hops beer hops. They have some of the best aromatic qualities you can find in hops from Western Europe and America.

The present variety has less than 5% of alpha acid concentration. That means it’s ideal for breweries that would like to have more woody scents and earthy aromas for their beers.

Most brewers prefer to get Crystal hops in the pellet form. However, you always have the chance to have them in their whole form for more explicit and direct results when you add them to the beer mixture.

El Dorado Hops

It is one of the newest beer hops you can find online. Produced in 2008 in the United States by a great company, they were released to the market only in late 2010.

The El Dorado hops are mostly known for their great alpha acid concentration that could reach 15% to 20%. These hops are great for giving a stronger and bitter taste to Pale Ales and beers that want many months to mature.

El Dorado hops only come in pellets to ensure that you can have them with you all the time and get them to your brewery in the same good condition after harvesting.

Glacier Hops

Glacier hops were the latest trend in Washington State. They were released in a brewery near Seattle and made their appearance close to the year 2000.

They have a great equilibrium between the sweet and bitter flavors. It is better to add these beer hops in your brewing beer to have a good sense of bitterness since the alpha acids can reach only 4% to 7% concentration.

Glacier hops are still made and distributed as a whole grain, and you can preserve it easier to ensure that you will have them for more beer barrels brewing in the future.

Liberty Hops

Liberty hops are also made in the United States and work better with Pale and Bock beers. These hops have a low acidity that comes only to 7% and gives you the full earthy and fruity aromas you would like in your beer.

This kind of hop has some German roots and can give you an imitation of traditional German brewing even though you are in the Americas.

Viking Hops

Last but not least, the Viking hops are the result of constant research from Wye College experts. It offers your beer herbal and spicy aromas.

Viking hops have an acid range that will not exceed 10% and are good enough for bitter pale ale beers that need some taste balancing.

No matter the beer hops you will use, it’s essential to use them with care and only in the right proportions.

References

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