Hops

About Hops

The female flower cones (strobiles) are essential for beer brewing, providing bitterness and acting as a natural preservative. Before hops, beer was flavored with gruit (a mix of herbs including yarrow, bog myrtle, and rosemary). Hops contain lupulin, which has sedative properties - hop pillows were used for insomnia in medieval Europe. They can grow 30 cm per day during peak season. Over 250 cultivated varieties exist. The US Pacific Northwest produces 75% of American hops. They are dioecious - only female plants produce cones. They are related to cannabis and nettles. Different hop varieties create distinct beer flavors.