Any beer drinker has heard of hops, but you may not know exactly how they play a role in the brewing of your favorite beers. Hops are green cone-shaped flowers of the Humulus lupulus plant that are used in the brewing process to create bitterness, aroma, and flavor. Depending on when they’re harvested and used, different types of beer like fresh hop and dry hop can be created. Columbia Distributing is a beverage distributor serving Washington and Oregon with reliable services and more than 90 years of experience in the industry. Here, we share more information about fresh hop beer and how it differs from traditional beer.
How It’s Made
Traditional beers are made using dried hops that have been cut off the bine and sent to a drying kiln. Once the hops are dried, they’re broken down into smaller pieces and can last for up to three years before being used. The hops are then added to the beer either before, during, or after the brewing process to provide bitterness, aroma, and flavor.
Contrarily, fresh hop beers are made with fresh hops that are never dried. This means the hops must be harvested right when they’re ripe and then raced to the brewery to start the brewing process. Since fresh hop beers aren’t made with dried hops, they have a very short shelf-life and have to be consumed very quickly before they spoil. This means they have to be added to the beer within 24 hours for the best results. The short shelf-life of fresh hop beers also means they’re only available for a short time each season, typically in September and October.
Taste
Although the differences between dry and fresh hop beers can be subtle, fresh hop beers tend to have a brighter and more intense flavor. The difference in taste could be compared to using dried herbs vs. fresh herbs when cooking– the flavor will be similar, but the intensity and aromas are different. Fresh hops are less concentrated than dried hops, so brewers have to use more of them to achieve the same flavor as a beer made with dried hops. Fresh hop beers tend to have flavor profiles that are grassy and plant-like without the bitterness present with dry hop beers.
Accessibility
Did you know more than 75% of American hops are grown in the Pacific Northwest? Most brewers of fresh hop beers are located there because fresh hops expire extremely quickly and need to be used as soon as possible to capture their unique flavor before they go bad. This means there is no time for these fresh hops to be shipped to other locations to be brewed. They need to be brewed within 24 hours and this means fresh hop beers are mainly available in the Pacific Northwest area. If you’re on the East Coast and dying to try out some fresh hop beer, you’ll have to plan a trip to the PNW during the hop harvest.
Contact Columbia Distributing Today
If you run a restaurant or bar in the Pacific Northwest, adding fresh hop beer to your menu during the season is a great way to attract customers. Columbia Distributing is a reliable beverage distribution company serving businesses in Washington and Oregon with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages that their customers want. Contact us today to learn more about the brands we offer or to start an account.