Some beer labels have put their hops content front and center, whether it’s in the name of the product or some sort of image denoting the presence of hops in the beverage. Whether it’s for a limited brew or a long-lasting brand, the amount of hops can be so appealing that it factors into the essence of the beer’s brand identity.
Last month, an article on Christmas-themed beers mentioned Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Fresh Hop IPA. The label for this beer combines a deep red background with a snowy image reminiscent of the holidays, along with festive plants that may be meant to represent hops themselves.
Brewers have a range of choices for which hops they use.
As an article in Columbus Crave points out, hops aren’t just a stagnant commodity, but are evolving to match growth in the craft beer industry. Because they have been adapted to grow in different environments, brewers have a range of choices for which they use. The article quotes Eric Bean of the Columbus Brewing Co., who mentioned some of the decision making that goes into selecting the right hops for the product.
“There are hops grown all over the world, but for what we do, the Pacific Northwest environment produces the big citrus and tropical fruit flavors,” Bean says, according to the source. “We’re liking what we’re seeing in New Zealand and Australia, but they’re not growing the volume we need.”
However, there are some that aren’t as interested in hops: in fact, a 2013 article in Slate alleged that they were “ruining” craft beer, to the point where drinkers couldn’t even detect them anymore. Whatever the content in the brew, beer makers, can use a color label printer to test out their latest packaging efforts.
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