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Author Topic: Hoppy  (Read 1835 times)

Offline tommymorris

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Hoppy
« on: May 21, 2018, 05:27:09 pm »
What does hoppy mean? Bitter? Lots of hop aroma/flavor (citrus, floral, etc.)?

I like that Untappd added one word descriptors that users can select to describe beers. You can get a feel for the group think on a beer. For example, Untappd drinkers use the following descriptors for Sierra Nevada Sidecar IPA: citrusy, hoppy, crisp, citrus, and funky. (Note: I don’t get funky for this beer.)



After a while the group think likely gets self-reinforced because users probably select from the short list of common descriptors provided rather than type their own.

One descriptor that comes up a lot is “hoppy”.  Should I check it for bitter beers or hop flavored beers?

PS. Sierra Nevada is so reliable. I love all their beers. Give me Sierra Nevada and Yellow Hammer and I am good.
« Last Edit: May 21, 2018, 05:28:56 pm by alestateyall »

Offline BrewBama

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Re: Hoppy
« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2018, 06:31:43 pm »
I check this chart for my Homebrew to try to hit ‘balanced’ to ‘slightly hoppy’.



Not sure what ‘hoppy’ is outside that.


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Offline tommymorris

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Re: Hoppy
« Reply #2 on: May 21, 2018, 09:19:26 pm »
Going by that chart hoppy is just bitter.

Offline ethinson

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Re: Hoppy
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2018, 05:57:54 am »
Hoppy to me would be aroma/flavor.  Lots of hop presence.  Bitter would be it's own separate thing.  You can have bitter with no aroma, you can also have bitter that's not from hops, roast malts, husks, astringency type bitterness that's not hop related. 

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Offline mabrungard

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Re: Hoppy
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2018, 05:59:03 am »
Hoppy and bitter are not the same thing. Hoppy is the perception of hop-derived flavor or aroma. Bitter is the perception of a drying and bitter sensation at the back of the throat that counters malt and alcohol sweetness.

You can have a bitter beer without hoppiness and you can have a hoppy beer that isn't bitter.
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Offline Adam

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Re: Hoppy
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2018, 11:54:48 am »
This is a problem I came across a lot while bartending.  People, expecially new beer drinkers, shy away from hoppy beers because they automatically associate hoppy and bitter.  I did my best to educate people that hoppy does not always have to be bitter but I feel like its an uphill battle.  Especially after the IBU wars a few years back.
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Offline tommymorris

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Re: Hoppy
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2018, 12:51:31 pm »
I agree that hoppy should be for hop flavor and bitter for bitter beers. 

Offline denny

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Re: Hoppy
« Reply #7 on: May 22, 2018, 03:04:34 pm »
There is no official definition of "hoppy".  It's pretty much a meaningless term. 
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Offline BrewBama

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Re: Hoppy
« Reply #8 on: May 22, 2018, 03:58:25 pm »
Can I get an example of a beer that would be described as ‘hoppy’ and one that could be described as ‘bitter’?  I am thinking hop bursting at the end of the boil for ‘hoppy’ and earlier additions for ‘bitter’.  Or?


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Offline tommymorris

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Re: Hoppy
« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2018, 04:58:47 pm »
Can I get an example of a beer that would be described as ‘hoppy’ and one that could be described as ‘bitter’?  I am thinking hop bursting at the end of the boil for ‘hoppy’ and earlier additions for ‘bitter’.  Or?


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NEIPA are hoppy but not bitter.  Bitter without hop flavor and aroma seems less common, but somebody else may have an example. However, I agree, something with lots of early additions but none late would be bitter.

Offline klickitat jim

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Re: Hoppy
« Reply #10 on: May 22, 2018, 05:14:27 pm »
There is no official definition of "hoppy".  It's pretty much a meaningless term.
What? So I guess malty, watery and yeasty are right out too.

If hoppy describes a Knee-Pa, then I suppose watery would work to describe the water in a Dortmunder or ESB. Malty works for Scottish, Dunkel, or Stout. And yeasty works for Belgians and Weissen

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Hoppy
« Reply #11 on: May 22, 2018, 06:43:11 pm »
Can I get an example of a beer that would be described as ‘hoppy’ and one that could be described as ‘bitter’?  I am thinking hop bursting at the end of the boil for ‘hoppy’ and earlier additions for ‘bitter’.  Or?


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NEIPA are hoppy but not bitter.  Bitter without hop flavor and aroma seems less common, but somebody else may have an example. However, I agree, something with lots of early additions but none late would be bitter.
I don’t get much aroma or hop flavor from Zum Uerige Altbier, but damn is it bitter. After six you don’t notice.
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