MT. Hood Hops
Mt. Hood hops first appeared for homebrew use in early 1989. They take their name from the Oregon Mountain in whose shadow they were developed, although they now grow in Washington and Idaho as well. Hops in general grow in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with most production coming from the American Pacific Northwest, Germany, and England.The cone-shaped flower of the plant is what is used in beer production. Hops provide aroma, flavour, or bitterness to the beer. Mt. Hood hops are primarily used for their aromatic properties. Mild, with a clean aroma, they provide a neutral flavour to the beer. These hops work well in lagers, providing clean bittering.
The home brewer can acquire hops as whole leaf or pellet. Whole leaf hops are just what they sound like: whole, intact hop flowers. Pellet hops are whole leaf hops that have been pulverized and extruded into hard pellets. Pellet hops tend to lend more bitterness to the beer than whole leaf hops. They also have a longer shelf life than whole leaf hops due to their compactness, which restricts oxidation, and because they can easily be vacuum-packed. Pellet hops are common in homebrew use because they’re easier to remove in a whirlpool separator, and they take up less storage space.
Hops should be stored at very cold temperatures, between 30 and -5° F, and kept away from air. Hops compressed into bales, pellets, or plugs have some protection from the air, with the exception of the surfaces. Air can still penetrate, however, and cause oxidation which can result in a cheesy odour to the hops.
In addition to brewing, hops are also used for sedation, to treat insomnia, to aid in digestion by relaxing spasms of the digestive system, and to soothe anxiety by relaxing the muscles. Aside from these health uses, hops have also been used in the production of ethanol due to their antimicrobial properties.
Find Mt. Hood Hops on Ebay below.
