Dry-Hopping: When normal hop additions aren't enough

Like so many things in life, India Pale Ales come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re a hop-head like I am, you know how insanely hoppy IPAs can be, ranging from a mild citrusy bitterness (like Belle’s Two Hearted Ale or Stone Pale Ale) to a sharp, punch you in the teeth bitterness (like Dogfish Head’s 90 Minute IPA or Sierra Nevada’s Torpedo).

Hops, wonderful hops!

You’re probably aware that IPAs get their distinct flavors and aromas from hops. But surprisingly, it’s not all about the amount of or variety of hops the brewer uses. Equally as important as the quantity and quality is the timing at which they are added to the beer. The processes by which hops are added to beer are just as varied as the beers that rely on their flavors and aromas.

During normal brewing sessions, hops are added at least twice. The first addition occurs at the beginning of the boil to extract the alpha acids contained in hops that provide the bitter flavor needed to offset sweet barley malt in beer. Brewers also add a late hop addition in the last 5-10 minutes of the boil to enhance aroma, but even this technique loses some aromatic oils that evaporate rapidly in the boil.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery's
"Sir Hops Alot"

But when crafting extreme IPAs and other hoppy styles, an extra shot of hops can be exactly what the doctor ordered. Enter dry hopping: a process in which hops are added to the fermenter or keg after fermentation. Dry hops add no bitterness to the beer, but the technique does add fragile aromatic oils that are normally lost in the boiling process. Dry hops are allowed to soak in the finished beer for anywhere from several days to several weeks, resulting in a burst of hoppy aroma.

This process is not something the big three commercial brewers would ever consider, but more and more craft brewers and home brewers are venturing into dry-hopping and other non-traditional hop treatments for their brews. Dogfish Head, for example, has created an invention called “Sir Hops Alot” that continuously adds hops throughout the boil. The possibilities are endless!!!

Here’s to craft-brewed happiness… Cheers!