Oftentimes I see people shy away from trying any beer that’s been called “hoppy”. But what do you mean by hoppy? For most, it seems to be a short hand for bitter, but for brewers “hoppy” is one of the primary and necessary elements of beer.
You might be surprised to learn that more than IPAs can be hoppy. Pilsners are actually one of the hoppiest beers around both in terms of relative bitterness and hop flavor. Pilsner hop flavor is often expressed as spicy, floral, and herbal (these are Noble hop characteristics, but that’s for a later talk), a marked difference from the citrus and pine of IPAs. Don’t let the name scare you, but an English Bitter is barely more bitter than a cup of tea. The English hop flavors are generally berry, woody, and earthy. Hazy IPAs, on the other hand, have incredible hop flavor with relatively low bitterness. These flavors are largely tropical, juicy, and sweet. Every beer has hop flavor even if you don’t realize it. What’s most important is finding the style that fits your preference.
So if you’re hesitant to try a beer because it’s “hoppy” take a moment to determine is it truly hop flavor you don’t like or just bitterness. Hop flavor is present in every beer from light to dark, heavy to sessionable, and macro to craft. It shows itself in many different ways, but they are all “hoppy”. Tell our expert beertenders what kind of flavor you enjoy (fruity, piney, herbal, juicy, etc.) and they’ll be happy to guide you to your new favorite beer!