What plant makes a good beer?

What is HOPS? Identification name: Humulus lupulus L. Family: Cannabaceae Habitat: native to Europe, Asia, and North America Medicinal parts: cone (female flowering part) Key chemical constituents: it contains flavonoids, hard and soft resinous bitter substances, polyphenols, essential oil. Specifically, humulone that is antibacterial, antioxidant; lupulone that is antimicrobial, antineoplastic; xanthohumol that is oestrogenic, antineoplastic, antiviral; quercetin that is antioxidant; kaempferol that is antioxidant, antibacterial. Properties and uses: hops is bitter tonic, antispasmodic, relaxant, sedative. Curiosity: hops were used as padding in pillows to promote sleep. Traditionally used as a sedative for insomnia, restlessness, nervousness, indigestion, lack of appetite. Caution: likely safe when consumed in amounts commonly found in foods. However, hops with alcohol can potentiate the sedative effects. Some constituents of hops have estrogenic activity, so people with hormonal imbalance or cancer should avoid it. Hops have central nervous system depressant effect that can add to depression.

HOPS is an essential raw material in brewing to flavor and preserve alcoholic beverages. Hops gives bitterness, aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, foam and lacing, flavor stability, as it is antimicrobial, inhibiting the growth of microorganisms that damage the flavor and appearance of beer. Hop cones contain large quantity of biologically active substances like bitter substances, polyphenols and essential oils. High-quality beer with characteristic bitter taste and aroma requires a certain composition of alpha and beta acids. When fresh hops are added to beer, almost 90% of bitterness of beer is formed as a result of conversion of alpha acids in iso-alpha acids. Beta acids are not bitter in taste, but they protect beer from oxidation, giving it a pleasant bitterness. Depending on the variety and type of hops, the content of beta acids ranges from 3.41% till 18.81%. Beta acids are highly antiseptic, necessary to increase the biological stability of beer during storage. Along with the bitter substances, hop cones also contain essential oils and polyphenols, which improve the clarification of beer. The best quality beer made from hops has a content of polyphenols not less than 4.5%.

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