Dear John, which regions of the world can hops grow in? Also, what is the difference between the various types?
- Rachel de Bernardo Philadelphia,PA
Good news for anyone who would like to grow some themselves: hops, as part of the hardy Cannabaceae family of plants, can grow almost anywhere. Of course, the species of hops we use in beer (Humulus lupulus) are mostly grown in Europe and North America. Major growth areas are located in Germany, the UK and Northwestern United States.
The various types of hops are all specific cultivars - specialized plants altered by humans to have specific uniform characteristics. All the varieties have unique flavors and aromas as well as differing levels of alpha acids which impart bitterness to the brew.
Dear John, I've noticed that you seem to wear the same shirt every time I've seen you (and in all the photos of you in the August/September issue.) What gives - do you only own one shirt?
Shannon M., Manayunk, PA
Thanks for pointing that out, actually. The shirt I can often be seen wearing is the promotional shirt from our first Brews for Boobies pub crawl last year. I love wearing the shirt because it is both stylish and helps raise awareness for our annual charity event. By the time you read this, we will have just completed our second Brews for Boobies event on the 3rd of October so you can look forward to me wearing the new one everywhere I go (and yes, I do wash it every time I wear it.)
Dear John, why do some people refer to some beers as “hoppy?” Aren't all beers brewed with hops? Adam T., Philadelphia, PA
As I pointed out in the last issue, beer does not technically have to be brewed with hops but most beers are. Besides the hops, much of a beer's flavor comes from its malts. Different beers use different amounts and types of hops for flavor and aroma. The beers that most people refer to as “hoppy” typically have their balance between malt and hops flavors tipped more towards the hops side, possibly as a result of using a large portion or stronger variety of hops.