Magnum Hops
One of the first things that you learn when you start to homebrew is the value of hops. Hops provide the flavors which we normally associate with beer, you could say that hops are what makes beer taste like beer.
The bitterness of the plant cuts the sweetness of the brew. When you discuss the taste of your beer, you are usually referring to the flavor of the hops.
Many mass produced beers use relatively few hops as a cost saving measure, which is why home brewers and craft breweries can produce such great tasting beer while the stuff you find in the store has just a little more flavor than water.
In addition to providing flavor and aroma, hops also help beer retain a good head, improve the clarity of the beer, and help reduce spoilage.
Magnum hops are a clean, slightly citrus tasting hop that provide great flavor for a variety of homebrew beers. Most commonly recommended for IPAs and other strong ales, the Magnum hop variety also works well in some Pilsners and German Lagers.
Magnum Hops were first developed at the Huell German Hop Research Institute in 1980. An American version, Yakima Hops, is widely available to homebrew enthusiasts.
Hops are a fragile ingredient, and correct storage is vital to keep their qualities from deteriorating over time. Pellet hops are more practical for small brewers as they are easier to store, and deteriorate more slowly than their whole leaf counterparts. For best results, do not open your hops until you are ready to use them, and once you have opened the package use a vacuum sealer to reseal the bag and keep them in your freezer.
These Magnum hops are available on Ebay right now.
