Hops in Craft Beer: Varieties, Aroma, and the Best Hoppy Beers on Maltese
Hops are the ingredient that gives beers bitterness, aroma, and character. Knowing the varieties and usage methods helps you choose and better appreciate every glass. Explore the hoppy beers on Maltese or subscribe to the Monthly Hoppy Beer Subscription to receive 6 selected beers every month.
🛒 Subscribe to Maltese Hoppy Beers
What Are Hops?
Hops (Humulus lupulus) are climbing plants whose female flowers — the cones — contain resins and essential oils. The resins (alpha acids) provide bitterness; the oils give aromas ranging from floral to resinous, including citrus, tropical fruit, and spices.
Main Hop Varieties
- Saaz: noble Czech hop, delicate and spicy — herbal and floral notes, typical of Pilsner
- Citra: American, intense — citrus, lime, tropical fruit — star of Hazy IPA
- Simcoe: resinous and piney with passion fruit notes — West Coast IPA
- Amarillo: floral and citrusy — orange and grapefruit — versatile in IPA and Pale Ale
- Mosaic: complex — berries, mango, herbs — widely used in NEIPA
- Styrian Golding: European, delicate — floral and spicy — typical of Belgian beers
How Hops Change Beer
- Bitterness (IBU): from alpha acids during boiling — longer boil = more bitterness
- Aroma: from essential oils — late additions during boiling or dry hopping preserve volatile aromas
- Dry hopping: adding hops cold after fermentation — maximizes aroma without increasing bitterness
Hoppy Beers to Try on Maltese
- 🛒 Make West Coast IPA Great Again — Ritual Lab (Cryo IPA, Simcoe and Citra, dry and resinous)
- 🛒 Monthly Hoppy Beer Subscription — Maltese (6 selected hoppy beers every month)
- 🍺 All IPA and hoppy beers on Maltese
- 🏷️ Create your own hoppy tasting box
Food Pairings for Hoppy Beers
- Grilled meats and BBQ — bitterness cuts through fat
- Aged and blue cheeses
- Spicy cuisine and Asian dishes
- Artisanal snacks for a hoppy aperitif
