Humulus Lupulus 50g – Hops

Humulus Lupulus 50g – Whole Flowers

Have you ever wondered what gives beer its unique, bitter taste and aroma? Here’s your answer! Hops may belong to the same family as cannabis (Cannabaceae), but instead of vaporizing or smoking this herb, it’s much better known for its use in brewing beer. In fact, a whopping 98% of all hops worldwide are used for brewing beer!

Hops in beer

So it’s clear that hops are used extensively in beer. But why, exactly? Well, the various compounds in hops add a bitter flavor to beer, but they also prevent the growth of unwanted microorganisms during the brewing process and are highly effective at stabilizing the head. Initially, beer was produced without the addition of hops, but that was before it became clear that unhopped beer had a shorter shelf life than beer containing hops.