56GARDENING: HOPS
than one in a drinking “session”
without getting carried away.
Usually around 4 percent alcohol
by volume (ABV).
Double DIPAs/Imperial IPAs
are pretty much the same thing
in that they both contain a higher
concentration of hops, which
provides a powerful flavour that
is balanced with more malt, which
means a higher alcohol content.
Usually 7 to 8 percent ABV.
Dry-hop beer means the hops
are steeped in the beer while it is
fermenting, rather than when it is
being boiled. Dry hopping brings
out different flavours from the
hops, such as fruitiness, without
making it more bitter.
Single-hop beer means the
beer is made using only one type
of hop, unlike most beers, which
use a blend of hops. By sticking
to one hop variety, you can taste
the unique flavours of one type
of hop, which is great if you are
a botanist or hop purist, but you
might also be missing out on the
complexity of a mixed-hop beer.
Fresh-hop beer is only
available during “hop season,”
when the hops are fresh, around
August and September. Make
sure you are on good terms with
your local craft brewer before
fresh-hop season rolls around, as
quantities are usually limited, and
the fresher the fresh-hop beer, the
more intense the flavours will be.
IPAs have taken on different
fashions all around the world.
In their place of origin, Britain,
they remain true to how they
were originally conceived: malty,
bitter and with a narrow selection
of hop varieties. West Coast
IPAs were reimagined when
the craft brewing trend really
began to take hold. They tend to
be exceptionally fruity. Crossed
between the simplistic British
IPAs and the over-the-top West
Coast IPAs, East Coast IPAs tend
to be more sophisticated than the
British IPAs but more subdued
than the West Coast IPAs. Belgian
IPAs are different not by hops
but by yeast, which gives them a
flavour like German wheat beers
(weissbier).
If geographic IPAs don’t
get weird enough for you, you
can always venture into oat
IPAs, fruited IPAs, sour IPAs
and even lactose IPAs (the list
goes on), which are all mostly
self-explanatory, but stick to
the hop-heavy nature of our
favourite brew style. HWhether you grow hops to brew your own beer
or for ornamental purposes, they can be well
worth your attention. Cheers!