Hoppy Essence
Beer connoisseurs, when determining its taste, describe the degree of "hoppiness" of the drink. Hop cones contain bitter oils that, depending on the duration of the brewing process, "balance" the sweetness of malt to varying degrees. They are also responsible for the foamy "head" in a beer mug. By the way, hops have antibacterial properties and aid digestion.
Harvest of "Green Gold"
The tradition of hop cultivation in Germany dates back to the distant 8th century. This sun-loving plant requires abundant watering and can reach several meters in height. Hop plantings form so-called hop gardens, which grow at an angle to receive as much sun as possible. The harvest time is August-September.
Aromatic Ingredient
Germany, the USA, and China are the main hop producers in the world. The entire harvest goes to brewing. The famous Hallertau in Bavaria is the world's largest hop-supplying region. Dozens of different varieties of "green gold" are grown here, the taste of which ranges from delicate, floral to spicy, tart, or resinous.
Hops are responsible for the aroma and bitterness of beer, the intensity of which is determined by the IBU (International Bitterness Units) – an international unit of bitterness. Before the fermentation process begins, between 100 and 400 grams of hops are added per 100 liters of beer, depending on the desired result. The bitterness level of the popular Pilsner style, for example, is quite high compared to lager-type beer.
Liquid Bread
Light or dark, filtered or unfiltered – as they say, it's a matter of taste. And German brewers achieve a wide range of flavors without violating the "Beer Law." The photo shows a sample being taken from traditional Düsseldorf dark beer Altbier. Every region of Germany is known for its own type of beer, which is not without reason also called "liquid bread" (flüssiges Brot).
Over many centuries, German brewers have developed a wide variety of beer types. Today there are more than 5,000. In addition, in 2014 there were 1,300 breweries in Germany. Recently, the wave of craft beer popularity has also reached German beer culture. Today, young experimental brewers are inventing the most incredible new varieties. But even they cannot do without hops.