What the fuck are Hops?

Question of the day: What the fuck are hops?

I'm a hop.

If you're a fan of beer, you must know what the fuck are hops. Hops contribute to the aroma, bitterness and flavour of the beer. Just like how you dump some cumin into a pot of curry to make it smell and taste nicer, similarly hops are being thrown into the brewing of beer to enhance the taste. First, you boil the fruit. Second, you add it into the beer. Simple.

When do we add hops?

You can add it straight into the fermenter right from the start, this determines the bitterness of your brew. This bittering of brew method is called "Dry Hopping" by the way. Normally people add them in when the bubbling from the air locker has slowed down, because the hop aroma will be carried away by the CO2 escaping from the fermenter, but of course, it's up to your choice. Personally I will throw my hops in during the most bubbling action so my room will smell hoppy, which is cool.

Another way to do it is to mix it in with your fermenter malt and stuff while you're boiling it at the initial stage, this gives your beer it's unique aroma and flavour. Throw your hops in at the last 15 - 20 mins of boiling. Aroma and flavour can also be further enhanced by doing it as shown in the photo below.

It's called Brew Job.

If you're a really really hardcore muthafuckin' beer person, I would recommend you to grow your own hops in your office or bedroom. The plant will give out it's own fragrance, which you can take a few sniffs to relax yourself or something. It'll be cool.

Don't you just want one?