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What’s the Hoppiest Beer You’ve Ever Tasted? A Journey into Bitterness and Beyond
Do you like hoppy beers? Do you crave the resinous, citrusy, and sometimes even dank flavors and aromas that hops can provide to beer? Or do you find hoppy beers too bitter, too aggressive, or too unbalanced for your palate? Whatever your stance on hops, you might be curious to know what’s the hoppiest beer you’ve ever tasted. Is it a classic IPA or DIPA, an experimental hop bomb, or a triple-digit IBU monster that defies categorization? Let’s explore some possibilities and see if we can answer this hoppy question once and for all.
Hops 101: Why Do We Use Hops in Beer?
Before we dive into hoppy beers, let’s briefly review why hops are so important in beer. Hops are a type of flowering plant that belongs to the Cannabaceae family, which also includes cannabis. Hops were first cultivated in Europe around 800 CE, when monasteries and breweries discovered their preservative and aromatic properties. Hops contain various compounds, including alpha acids, beta acids, and essential oils, that can help to:
– Balance the sweetness of malted barley and other grains in beer
– Preserve the freshness of beer by inhibiting the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms
– Enhance the flavor and aroma of beer by contributing fruity, floral, spicy, herbal, or other notes, depending on the type and amount of hops used.
The bitterness of hops is mainly due to alpha acids, which can be isomerized during the boiling of wort (the sugary liquid extracted from the mashed grains) and converted into iso-alpha acids, a chemical compound that tastes bitter to humans. The bitterness of beer is usually measured in International Bitterness Units (IBUs), which range from 0 (no perceived bitterness) to over 100 (extreme bitterness). However, IBUs are not a perfect indicator of hop flavor or aroma, which can vary widely depending on the hop variety, the timing and method of hopping, and the other ingredients and processes used in brewing.
Hops 201: What Makes a Beer Hoppy?
Now that we know the basics of hops, let’s discuss what makes a beer hoppy. Hoppy beers are usually characterized by:
– High bitterness: Hoppy beers often have IBUs above 50, and some can approach or exceed 100 IBUs. However, bitterness alone does not make a beer hoppy, as we will see later.
– Hop flavor: Hoppy beers can showcase various flavors and aromas of hops, such as citrus, pine, floral, herbal, spicy, or tropical fruit. These flavors are usually more pronounced in hop-forward beers.
– Hop aroma: Hoppy beers can also have strong hoppy aromas, either from dry-hopping (adding hops after the boiling stage to extract more volatile compounds like essential oils) or from late-boil additions that preserve more hop aroma.
However, not all hoppy beers are created equal. Some beers may be hoppy but still balanced, meaning that the malt and hop flavors complement each other and create a harmonious taste. Other beers may be hoppy but also sweet or boozy, meaning that the hop bitterness is not enough to offset the residual sweetness or alcohol content. Still, other beers may be hoppy but lacking in complexity or depth, meaning that they rely on hops as a gimmick rather than as an integral part of the beer.
Hops 301: What’s the Hoppiest Beer You’ve Ever Tasted?
Finally, we arrive at the main question of this blog post: what’s the hoppiest beer you’ve ever tasted? Of course, this question is subjective and depends on many factors, such as:
– Your personal sensitivity to bitterness and flavor
– Your experience with different types of hoppy beers
– Your access to rare or limited-release beers
– Your taste preferences and mood at the moment of tasting.
Therefore, I will not claim that my answer is the definitive one, but rather offer some contenders based on my own palate and experience. Feel free to share your own hoppiest beer in the comments section!
The Hoppiest Beers I’ve Ever Tasted (So Far)
1. Pliny the Elder – Russian River Brewing Company
Pliny the Elder is widely regarded as a classic example of a West Coast DIPA, a style known for its intense hops and light malt character. Pliny clocks in at 8% ABV and over 100 IBUs, but it also showcases a complex flavor and aroma profile, with notes of grapefruit, pine, and resin, and a clean and dry finish. Pliny is not easy to find outside of California, and even there it can be elusive and sought after.
2. Hoptimum – Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Hoptimum is another DIPA that boasts more than 100 IBUs and a strong hop presence, but it also has a hefty malt backbone that balances the bitterness and provides some caramel and toffee flavors. Hoptimum uses a blend of hops that includes Simcoe, Chinook, and Citra, among others, and features a tropical and citrusy aroma that complements the resinous and dank flavor.
3. Heady Topper – The Alchemist Brewery
Heady Topper is a Vermont legend that has gained cult status among hopheads for its can-only distribution and elusive nature. Heady Topper is an unfiltered and unpasteurized DIPA that pours hazy and juicy, with a 8% ABV and over 100 IBUs. Heady Topper showcases a fruity and hoppy aroma that invites you to take a sip, and then hits you with a wave of bitterness that lingers in your mouth. Heady Topper is not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth seeking out if you can handle the hype.
4. Hopslam – Bell’s Brewery
Hopslam is a seasonal release from Bell’s that combines honey and a blend of hops (including Simcoe, Amarillo, and Centennial) to create a unique flavor and aroma profile. Hopslam is still a DIPA, with over 80 IBUs and a ABV of 10%, but it also exhibits a floral and sweet element that balances the bitterness and adds complexity. Hopslam is often called a “hoppy mead” for its resemblance to a honey wine, but it’s definitely a beer that deserves its own category.
5. Devil Dancer – Founders Brewing Company
Devil Dancer is a triple IPA, a style that pushes the limits of hops and booze beyond the traditional DIPA range. Devil Dancer boasts a whopping 112 IBUs and a ABV of 12%, enough to make your tongue and brain explode with hoppy goodness. Devil Dancer uses a more complex hopping schedule than Pliny or Hoptimum, with multiple additions of eight hop varieties that combine to create a fruity, piney, and spicy flavor and aroma. Devil Dancer is not for the faint of liver, but it’s a great example of the extreme end of hoppy beers.
Honorable Mentions:
– Stone RuinTen – Stone Brewing Company
– Rogue IIPA – Rogue Ales & Spirits
– Two Hearted Ale – Bell’s Brewery
– Pliney for president – Russian river brewery
Conclusion: Hops Beyond Bitterness
We’ve come a long way from the basics of hops to the hoppiest beers I’ve ever tasted. Hopefully, this journey has revealed that hops are not just about bitterness, but also about flavor, aroma, complexity, and creativity. Hoppy beers can be balanced or extreme, subtle or bold, classic or experimental, and still showcase the amazing potential of hops in brewing. Of course, hoppy beers are not for everyone, and some people might prefer other beer styles that emphasize malt, yeast, or other ingredients. That’s fine, as long as we can appreciate the diversity and quality of beers that exist today. So, what’s the hoppiest beer you’ve ever tasted? Are you curious to try some of the beers I’ve mentioned? Let me know in the comments, and cheers to hops!
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