Intro
When someone says beer I immediatelly think of hops, therefore I think, it is suitable to begin there. Hops create big portion of the flavour and aroma of the beer, let’s find out why.
First let’s look at what hops are- hops are flowers of the Hummulus lupus plant (which is in the same family as weed – cannabaceae). They are often breed to have specific required qualities by the beer makers or specialized companies.
Chemicals
Hops contain specific chemical compounds which are responsible for its specific aroma and functions in the beer. The main chemical responsible for the bitterness are alpha acids, which get isomerases during boiling of the wort. The smell specific to hops is produced by oil compounds. Polyphenoles are antioxidants which help to prevent premature aging of the final product- beer.
alternatives
There are available alternatives to the hops themselves, such as dried pellets, extracts and granulated hops. Their usage is getting more and more popular, mainly due to their lower weight than regular hops. It all depends on the brewer and the style of beer created.