So, hops are my favorite ingredient to beer, and I am an unabashed hop fiend. Every time I buy ingredients, I have to resist the urge to buy twenty pounds of hops and roll in them. Historically, hops were used not only as a flavor additive to beer, but also as a preservative, and are also rich in antioxidants (see Ma! Beer IS healthy for you!).

Historically, hops weren't commonly used in beer until about 500 years ago, but they've been a mainstay for brewing ever since.

Pictured here are 1 ounce of Mt Hood Hops, an American hop species derived from German Hallertau hops. Mt Hood have an earthy character to them. Also used in this brew, though not pictured, are East Kent Goldings (pretty standard hop from England) and Cascades (my personal favorite, a citrusy, piney hop from up in Oregon).