Hops - What are they and what will they do to your beer?

Put simply, hops are the seasoning in beer and are used to create bitterness to balance out the sweetness of the malt. Each hop variety carries it's own unique flavours and aromas that also contribute to the final taste of the beer. Below is a list of some popular hop varieties detailing their characteristics and the types of beer they will taste best with.

Amarillo - Citrusy and floral - Best with India Pale Ales, Pales and Amber beers

Cascade - Citrusy, floral and aromatic - Best with American Ales (Amarillo can be used as a substitute)

Fuggles - Traditional British aromatic - Best with British and American Ales

Goldings - Mildly aromatic and bitter - Best with bitters, stouts and pales

Hallertau - German aromatic hop - Best with lagers and Pils

Saaz - Aromatic and bitter - Best with European lagers, Pils, Belgian beers

Tettnanger - Spicy, noble aromatic hop - Best with lagers, Pils and Kolsch beers