IBU stands for International Bitterness Units, the measurement used to quantify the bitterness of beer. One IBU equals one milligram of iso-alpha acids — the bittering compounds from hops — dissolved per liter of beer. The higher the IBU, the more bittering compounds are present. A light lager might register 8–12 IBU; a West Coast […]
What Is IBU in Beer? The Complete Guide to Bitterness Read More »
Simcoe hops are a dual-purpose American variety known for their bold combination of passion fruit, pine, earth, and a distinctive dankness that hop-heads love. Released in 2000 by Select Botanicals Group, Simcoe has become one of the most sought-after hops in craft brewing — essential to countless IPAs and NEIPAs, and responsible for one of
Simcoe Hops: Flavor Profile & How to Brew With Them Read More »
Galaxy hops are an Australian variety prized for their intensely tropical aroma — passion fruit, peach, and citrus layered in a way that few hops from any country can match. Developed in Australia and released in 2009, Galaxy quickly became one of the most coveted hops in craft brewing worldwide, particularly as the NEIPA boom
Galaxy Hops: Flavor Profile & How to Brew With Them Read More »
Citra hops are the most recognizable hop variety in modern craft beer. If you’ve ever cracked open a hazy IPA and been hit by an explosion of mango, passionfruit, and lime, there’s a good chance Citra was in the kettle. Released in 2008, Citra went from new variety to industry standard faster than almost any
Citra Hops: Flavor Profile & How to Brew With Them Read More »
Cascade hops are the reason American craft beer exists. That’s not hyperbole — when Sierra Nevada Brewing released their Pale Ale in 1980 using Cascade as the primary hop, it introduced an entire generation of American drinkers to what beer could taste like outside of a mass-market lager. The grapefruit-and-pine character of Cascade became the
Cascade Hops: Flavor Profile & How to Brew With Them Read More »
California Common — also called steam beer — is a uniquely American hybrid lager beer fermented at ale temperatures, producing a beer with the clean malt character of a lager and the fruity complexity of an ale. It’s amber in color, firm in bitterness, with woody, herbal hop notes and a crisp finish. ABV typically
What Is a California Common? Guide to Steam Beer Read More »
lager beer is the most food-friendly beer category in the world — and most people haven’t fully appreciated that yet. Its clean fermentation character, moderate carbonation, and range of malt profiles from pale and crisp to dark and toasty mean there’s a lager for almost every dish on the table. The trick is matching the
Lager Food Pairing Guide: What to Eat With Every Style Read More »
All pilsners are lagers, but not all lagers are pilsners. lager beer is a broad category of beer fermented cold with bottom-fermenting yeast — pilsner is a specific style of pale, hop-forward lager that originated in Bohemia in 1842. The difference is like asking about cars vs. sedans: sedan is a type of car, just
Lager vs Pilsner: How to Know The Difference Read More »
West Coast IPA and New England IPA are the two dominant IPA styles in craft beer right now, and they could hardly taste more different. West Coast is dry, clear, and aggressively bitter. NEIPA is hazy, juicy, and soft. Here’s everything you need to know to tell them apart — and figure out which one
West Coast IPA vs NEIPA: What’s the Difference? Read More »
IPA food pairing works differently depending on the sub-style you’re drinking. A West Coast IPA’s sharp bitterness cuts through fatty, rich food in a way that a soft New England IPA simply doesn’t. Get the match right and you’ll taste both the beer and the food better — here’s how to pair each major IPA
IPA Food Pairing: How to Pair With Every Style Read More »