Hoppy Easter - The Beer Thrillers

The Battle of the Breweries 2025 Champion Is…

B. Kline — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 19:49:13 +0000

The Battle of the Breweries 2025 Champion is…

On the same night that John Cena won his 17th World Heavyweight Championship, we crowned our first two time champion. Fighting it out in the Finals Fatal Four-Way for this year, 2025, we had returning champion Liquid Noise Brewing Company vs. Collusion Tap Works vs. former champion Allusion Brewing Company vs. Acclamation Brewing.

Also, just like last night, with Cody Rhodes losing, so did our returning champion. So yes, that means your 2025 Battle of the Breweries Champion is….

The 2025 Battle of the Breweries Champion is…. Allusion Brewing Company!

Allusion Brewing Company

Our first two time champion, Allusion Brewing Company previously won in 2023. Located in Vandergrift Pennsylvania, at 143 Grant Ave, Vandergrift, PA 15690 and their second location is at 1701 Duncan Avenue, Allison Park, Duncan Manor Plaza. This marks the first time we have had a returning champion win! Our previous winners have included:

2021: Isle of Que Brewing
2022: Von C Brewing
2023: Allusion Brewing Company
2024: Liquid Noise Brewing Company

Congratulations go out to Allusion Brewing Company, all of their staff, and all of their fans and customers for voting for them!

Finals Breakdown

With Allusion Brewing Company winning, that means there were three runner-ups. Winners of their own conferences, but in the Finals Fatal Four-way they came in the following places:

4th Place: Acclamation Brewing
3rd Place: Liquid Noise Brewing Company
2nd Place: Collusion Tap Works
1st Place: Allusion Brewing Company

There was 1415 total votes in the finals, with Allusion Brewing Company receiving more than half of the total (52.4%). Collusion Tap Works in 2nd place received 249 votes (17.6%), third place – Liquid Noise Brewing Company received 218 (15.4%), and in fourth place Acclamation Brewing received 206 votes (14.6%).

Results of the Finals Fatal Four-Way

List of Champions

2021: The Isle of Que Brewing Company
2022: Von C Brewing Company
2023: Allusion Brewing Company
2024: Liquid Noise Brewing Company
2025: Allusion Brewing Company

For more information on the past winners

For More Information on Allusion Brewing Company

The following comes via Untappd.

Allusion Brewing Company is listed as a micro brewery from Vandergrift, PA. They have 89 unique beers, and over 9,700 ratings, with a global average rating of 3.80 (as of 4.21.25). Their Untappd description reads: “Vandergrift’s hometown brewery, with a taproom in Allison Park, offering a consistent library of approachable beers taking the tradition of each style seriously. Craft beer is about bringing people together – come join our story.”

Battle of the Breweries 2025 Links

Here is a link to all of the different Battle of the Breweries 2025 pages (voting pages, rules, lists of competitors, etc.) The results pages will be posted shortly, and will be more in-depth than the previous articles for this year.

Rules, Guidelines, List of Competitors

Voting Pages

Round of 64:

Round of 32:

Round of 16:

Round of 8:

Round of 4:

Round of 4 Voting: Apollo Conference
Round of 4 Voting: Cascade Conference
Round of 4 Voting: Liberty Conference
Round of 4 Voting: Zeus Conference
The Conferences Final Four: All Four Conferences Final Four Voting Pages on One Page

Conference Finals:

Conference Finals Voting: Apollo Conference
Conference Finals Voting: Cascade Conference
Conference Finals Voting: Liberty Conference
Conference Finals Voting: Zeus Conference
All Conferences Finals Voting Pages: The Battle of the Breweries 2025 – Conference Finals

Tournament Finals Fatal Four Way:

Finals Fatal Four-Way Voting Page

Results Pages

Round of 64:

Round of 64 Results: Apollo Conference
Round of 64 Results: Cascade Conference
Round of 64 Results: Liberty Conference
Round of 64 Results: Zeus Conference

Round of 32:

Round of 32 Results: Apollo Conference
Round of 32 Results: Cascade Conference
Round of 32 Results: Liberty Conference
Round of 32 Results: Zeus Conference

Round of 16:

Round of 16 Results: Apollo Conference
Round of 16 Results: Cascade Conference
Round of 16 Results: Liberty Conference
Round of 16 Results: Zeus Conference

Round of 8:

Round of 8 Results: Apollo Conference
Round of 8 Results: Cascade Conference
Round of 8 Results: Liberty Conference
Round of 8 Results: Zeus Conference

Round of 4:

Round of 4 Results: Apollo Conference
Round of 4 Results: Cascade Conference
Round of 4 Results: Liberty Conference
Round of 4 Results: Zeus Conference

Conference Finals:

Conference Finals Results: Apollo Conference
Conference Finals Results: Cascade Conference
Conference Finals Results: Liberty Conference
Conference Finals Results: Zeus Conference

Tournament Finals Fatal Four Way:

Finals Fatal Four-Way Results Page

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who voted. I will go into a much bigger thank you on the Results Page, as well as looking for feedback, suggestions for next year (and all other years going forward), and in general people’s thoughts, ideas, and if they enjoyed this year’s tournament or not. I hope everyone did. I appreciate all the time and effort everyone spent on voting and participating in the tournament, and I can only hope everyone enjoyed it. This year’s edition was plagued with a few technical issues on our website, on social media, and all kinds of things, but I think we made it through, just going an extra week long due to the issues. But ending on WrestleMania Night 2, on Easter, and on 4:20 day, kind of made up for it.

I want to congratulate all of the finalists – Allusion Brewing Company (Apollo Conference winner), Collusion Tap Works (Zeus Conference Winner), Liquid Noise Brewing Company (Cascade Conference Winner), and Acclamation Brewing (Liberty Conference Winner). All four breweries did a fantastic job throughout the tournament, and are fantastic breweries period. So if you can, go out and support these great places and people!

There was a total of 256 breweries competing this year, from 13 states and the District of Columbia. So this was certainly a hard fought win, especially since it’s their second win, for Allusion Brewing Company. Congrats to them (again)!

If you are new to the blog and our site, and this is your first time visiting, please hang out, bookmark the site, and check back with us. We do beer news and brewery information (typically in the Pennsylvania and Central Pennsylvania area, but we do cover the larger area), as well as brewery reviews, beer reviews, opinion pieces, book reviews, hiking trails and reviews, job postings, new releases, brewery maps, and so much more. And we are ever growing and increasing. So please, stick around and tell a friend!

Thank you all for visiting and hope you all enjoyed the tournament, and cheers to all!

Thank You For Reading

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Cheers.

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MAPS OF BREWERIES

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The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of April 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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Hop Into Easter: Exploring Central PA’s Finest Hoppy Brews

B. Kline — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 13:23:41 +0000

Hoppy Easter to One and All

It’s Easter again in Central Pennsylvania, and so its time yet again to take a look at some of our favorite Hoppy IPAs.

As Easter approaches, bringing with it the warmth of spring and the joy of renewal, it’s the perfect time to explore some of the hoppiest delights that Central Pennsylvania’s craft breweries have to offer. The region, known for its vibrant craft beer scene, produces a wide array of IPAs that promise to add an extra hop to your step this Easter. Whether you’re hunting for Easter eggs or just enjoying the springtime bloom, these five IPAs are sure to refresh and invigorate.

(You can check out our previous Easter articles here: Hoppy Easter Pennsylvania – 2023, Hoppy Easter IPAS of 2020, and our breakfast article – Hop Shoots Omelet, also don’t miss out on Amy’s column article: Peanut Butter Eggs, Easter Beer, and YAH Brew’s Shimmy Shack.)

1. Troegs Independent Brewing – Perpetual IPA

Troegs Independent Brewing’s Perpetual IPA

Nestled in the sweet surroundings of Hershey, Troegs Independent Brewing crafts the Perpetual IPA, a beacon of hoppy bliss. This Imperial Pale Ale combines a crisp and vibrant hop flavor with notes of citrus and pine, balanced beautifully by a robust malt backbone. It’s a perpetual favorite for those seeking a classic IPA experience, making it a perfect companion for your Easter feast.

2. Pizza Boy Brewing – Frontside Lipside

Frontside Lipside by Pizza Boy Brewing Company

From the creative cauldrons of Pizza Boy Brewing in Enola comes the Frontside Lipside, a West Coast-style IPA that’s as bold and adventurous as an Easter morning egg hunt. With its bitter bite and aromatic presence of tropical fruits and pine, this brew is a thrilling ride for the palate. It’s an excellent choice for those who like their Easter with a side of exhilarating flavor.

3. South County Brewing Co. – Liminal Moment

South County Brewing’s Liminal Moment

Spring is a time of transition, and what better way to embrace it than with South County Brewing’s Liminal Moment? This hazy New England-style IPA, brewed in the quiet town of Fawn Grove, captures the essence of spring with its juicy, hop-forward profile, bursting with notes of mango, pineapple, and citrus. It’s a smooth, creamy beer that balances bitterness with refreshing zest, perfect for sipping on a sunny Easter afternoon.

4. Ever Grain Brewing Co. – Joose Juicy IPA

Joose Juicy by Ever Grain Brewing Company

Easter is all about joy and rejuvenation, and Ever Grain Brewing Co.’s Joose Juicy IPA is here to uplift your spirits. This New England-style IPA, hailing from Camp Hill, is a celebration of all things hoppy and fruity. With a less bitter but flavor-packed profile, it offers a juicy burst of fruitiness that’s akin to discovering the most colorful egg in the Easter egg hunt.

Ever Grain’s Joose Juicy Packaging

(See also: Joose Juicy’s New Packaging.)

5. Appalachian Brewing Company – Hoppy Trails IPA

Hoppy Trails IPA by Appalachian Brewing Company

Finally, we journey to Harrisburg, where Appalachian Brewing Company crafts its Hoppy Trails IPA. This classic American IPA is a harmonious blend of hoppy bitterness with citrus and floral notes, reminiscent of a spring garden in bloom. It’s the perfect brew to round out your Easter gathering, offering a refreshing trail back to the beloved hop traditions.

This Easter, while you’re enjoying the festivities and the emergence of spring, let these Central PA craft beers add a hoppy twist to your celebrations. Each brewery brings its unique spin to the beloved IPA, crafting beers that are as diverse and vibrant as the Easter season itself. So, hop to it and explore these delightful brews that Central Pennsylvania has to offer!

For those who celebrate – we want to wish you a Happy (or should we say HOPPY) Easter. As well as everyone, we wish you a day spent with family, enjoying each other’s company, and enjoying great craft beer. Cheers!

Hoppy Easter – Five Great Central PA IPAs (2023)

B. Kline — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 13:06:52 +0000

Hoppy Easter Everyone!

Hoppy Easter

Hoppy Easter everyone! I hope the best for everyone of all religions and dominations have a wonderful and Hoppy Easter today. I am just about to make breakfast using the hop shoots that are popping up and growing, but first wanted to get this fun little IPA article posted.

(Hoppy Easter – IPAs [2020])

Cascade Hops Popping Up (2023)

As you can see above, my cascade hops are already springing up pretty quickly. (You can find images on our Instagram here: The Beer Thrillers – Instagram.) I will be cutting these early shoots to make breakfast this morning, possibly doing a Hop Shoots Omelet, I’ve done this in years past.

Hop Shoots Omelet

(That’ll probably be an article for tomorrow then. I’m not a big foodie or great cooker, so fingers crossed it’ll go well.)

In the meantime, lets take a look at five great Central PA IPAs, of this season. Enjoy!

Five Great Hoppy Central PA IPAs

Green Machine – Boneshire Brew Works

Green Machine by Boneshire Brew Works

Beer: Green Machine
Brewery: Boneshire Brew Works
Style: IPA – American
ABV: 7.2%
IBU: 75
Untappd Description: Green Machine! Green Machine! Green Machine! This hop fueled juggernaut smashes your senses with its not-so-delicate bouquet of floral notes, tropical fruits, and pine. Drink up IPA lovers, drink up.

Global Average Untappd Rating: 3.80 (as of 4.9.23)
My Untappd Rating: 4.25

This is one of my favorite IPAs and why I lead off with this one. Its a year round flagship at Boneshire Brew Works, and it is absolutely delicious. If you get the chance to stop in at either of their locations, you have to try it.

Lollihop by Troegs Independent Craft Brewing

Beer: Lollihop
Brewery: Troegs Independent Craft Brewing
Style: IPA – Imperial / Double
ABV: 8.2%
IBU: N/A
Untappd Description:

We Taste: pear, citrus, hint of Melon.

When we make our annual pilgrimage to the hop-growing hotbed of Yakima Valley, we’re like kids in a candy store. We eyeball the hops on the lines, crush them in our hands and rub them til their oil fill the air. LolliHop brings together three of our favorites. Dry-hopping with Citra and Mosaic layers in notes of orange, grapefruit, and melon, while Azacca in the kettle adds hints of papaya and pineapple. Locally harvested rustic pale malt provides the backbone, and wheat and oats make this beer silky smooth with a touch of haze.

Global Average Untappd Rating: 4.03 (as of 4.9.23)
My Untappd Rating: 3.75

A fan favorite this time of year here in Central PA. Living five minutes from the brewery certainly has its perks. This is one of Drew (of Knights of Nostalgia)’s favorites from Troegs, and his favorites in general. Personally I can’t wait for Nimble Giant season which will be right around the corner.

Silent Disco by Funk Brewing

Beer: Silent Disco
Brewery: Funk Brewing
Style: IPA – New England / Hazy
ABV: 6.1%
IBU: 62
Untappd Description: A bowlful of tropical juicy flavors.

Global Average Untappd Rating: 3.89 (as of 4.9.23)
My Untappd Rating: 4.25

This is a fun New England IPA. It might not be their most notable, but its certainly one of their stellar flagship IPAs. They have many other IPAs that are very good as well like Citrus IPA, Double Citrus IPA, Pipe Dream, and Prop, and even a Double Disco. We have previously reviewed their seasonal IPA – Royal Rumble. (As well as another beer from them – Griddle.)

Broken Heels by New Trail Brewing Company

(Broken Heels by New Trail Brewing Company)

Beer: Broken Heels
Brewery: New Trail Brewing Company
Style: IPA – New England / Hazy
ABV: 7%
IBU: N/A
Untappd Description:

A Hazy IPA hopped intrepidly with hand-selected Citra and Mosaic, leading to High Aromatics of luminous Citrus, rich Conifer, and refreshing Tropicals. This beer packs a full mouthfeel with low bitterness that is soft on the palette. Broken Heels is available all day everyday, and reminds us that no adventure is without its risks.
Pack The Essentials.

Global Average Untappd Rating: 3.94 (as of 4.9.23)
My Untappd Rating: 4.25

Albeit this is a little bit north of Central PA (Harrisburg wise), but its everywhere here. Sheetz, WaWa’s, Rutters, you name it, you can find it in their beer coolers. While I do love hammering some of the tall boys of these, I do typically prefer the Double Broken Heels, a good four pack of the Double Broken Heels will have you feeling all kinds of good.

We did review this previously here: Beer Review: Broken Heels. Here’s a brief quick excerpt:

This is like drinking hoppy juicy dank orange juice. It is so full of citrus fruit juicy hop taste and is just so easy to drink. You get a flourish of hop notes as soon as you start sipping, you get citrus, you get the tropical fruits, you get practically no bitterness, you just get a smooth drink. The pilsner malts and the flaked oats gives this a really smooth and tasty brew and just makes it like a wonderful NEIPA that drinks easy. After one sip of this you can quickly see why New Trails Brewing Co. is known for their outstanding IPAs.
Beer Review: Broken Heels (New Trail Brewing Co.)

We have reviewed a few other New Trail Beers in the past, and I know I can sometimes get a bit cynical of their IPAs tasting the same, but at the end of the day, their IPAs are absolutely wonderful even if they are all very similar. (You can find our review of Icicle here – Beer Review: Icicle.)

Annville iPA by Rotunda Brewing Company

Beer: Annville iPA
Brewery: Rotunda Brewing Company
Style: IPA – New England / Hazy
ABV: 7.8%
IBU: 110
Untappd Description: (Blank)

Global Average Untappd Rating: 3.90 (as of 4.9.23)
My Untappd Rating: 4.00

This is the highest IBU on the list. But thats nothing to hold against this (or to prop it up either I suppose). No Central PA IPA list would be complete without this wonderful IPA on it (so, it might be five on my list, but its not the least, or the last, this list is in no order). This is a delicious, juicy IPA, very tasty, and you can find it at Rotunda Brewing Company’s main brewery in Annville, or their brewpub in Hershey, or at a lot of different bars in the Hershey, Harrisburg, Hummelstown, Palmyra, Annville, Lebanon area.

We’ve reviewed a couple from them, such as: Juicy Fruit sWheat Tart, Irish Car Bomb Nitro Stout, Chewbacca, and Mango Guyabano sWheat Tart. Please check them out.

Hoppiest of Easters

Just want to wish everyone one last time, the Hoppiest of Easters. If you are looking for more great IPA and beer review and related articles from us, please be sure to check these out:

Thank You For Reading

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. I’m off to make breakfast for Amy and Scarlet (well, she’s not gonna be eating, but all the same), and myself. Later we are getting my older three girls, and will have a wonderful Easter day. I hope the same for all of you.

We are currently starting to work on creating maps of all the breweries in each state, starting geographically with Maine. So be on the lookout for these great resources to soon be popping up on the blog. Hoping to get a state done every 2 – 4 days. (Some will be quicker and easier than others, but 50 states, plus Washington D.C., will certainly take some time!)

We just got the Maine map done, you can see that here: Map of Maine Breweries.

Currently right now we are in the Finals of our Battle of the Breweries (2023). You can check out the final four breweries left in the Finals Fatal Four Way here and vote:

The Battle of the Breweries (2023) – Finals Fatal Four Way (Voting Page)
The Battle of the Breweries (2023) – Conference Finals (Results Page)

In the upcoming two weeks I am going to do a more thorough look at the full tournament, breaking down the votes and how well each conference winner did. I will also do a full write up on each of the breweries in the Finals Fatal Four Way too, where I will list what articles we’ve done about them, and my visits to each of those places.

Thank you everyone for reading and please like, share, follow, subscribe, all that good stuff you see at the end of every YouTube video.

Cheers All!

-B. Kline

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

Beer Education: Module Four: Hops and Spices

BKline — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 18:19:38 +0000

Finally we’re up to the module all you hop-heads were looking forward to. Module Four: Hops and Spices! I imagine most of you will be caring about the hops of it; not the spices, but both are intricate to brewing (as you will see with this module). So let’s continue our journey and adventure through the Science of Beer Brewing!

Module four starts off, just like the others, with an introduction video. The intro video is by Stijn and is only 1:31. The second page is a 4 minute video introducing hops. As most know, hops are used to bitter, add flavor, and to help stabilize beers. It was also quickly realized in the 11th century that hops also help add to the shelf-life of beer. So between this and the taxation of gruit in Germany, there was a lot more reason and emphasis for brewers to go from using gruit to using hops in brewing. In 1516 the purity laws in Germany reduced the usage of herbs and spices even more.

Hops scientific name is humulus lupulis. (The lupulis or lupulin is the power inside the hop cones.) Hops are primarily cultivated for brewing and beer production (but can also be used for tea, sleep aides, and soap). 75% of hop production and growth takes place in Germany and the United States (primarily in the Yakima Valley).

Only the female plants are used for beer brewing, as they grow the flowers and the cones. Its these cones that have the lupulin (resin) that contains the molecules of interest for brewing. For this reason male hop plants are not grown with the female to prevent pollination. (To learn more about hop growing, I will be posting an article shortly about my own hop growing from my own growing hops this spring. At my house I have Cascade, Centennial, Nugget, and Saaz, and looking at possibly getting more.)

After clicking NEXT, we come to a text page about the role of hops and hop compounds. Characteristics of beer that are altered by hops include: beer bitterness, beer flavor, mouthfeel, foam stability and lacing, improved shelf life, antibacterial properties of the hops, protein precipitation during wort clarification, and phenolic antioxidants.

There are four major hop molecule classes:
* alpha acids – hop bitter acids
* beta acids – not as important due to most being lost during the brewing process
* essential oils – important contributors to the beer’s flavor, bitterness, and aroma
* polyphenols – important for the beer stabilization (haze, foam, lacing)

The page continues with a large chart of the various compounds and their weight (when the hops are still wet). This is followed by a second chart showing what hop compounds are retained in beer (after the brewing process). There is an important note to remember; that beers with dry-hopping (particularly IPAs) the aroma is going to be higher and greater due to the dry-hopping.

Our next page is another text page – hop types and varieties. “The Latin name of the hop plant is Humulus lupus L., belonging to the plant family Cannabaceae (this plant family, for example, also contains the Cannabis plant species!). There are many different hop varieties and around 100 of these are commercially cultivated. New varieties are constantly being bred in order to obtain better growing and resistant plants and hop cones with superior qualities.” (EdX – The Science of Beer Brewing.) Hops are somewhat similar to most seed plants as far as naming, with the heirloom, for example, older hop varieties have a double naming pattern. The first name refers to the origin of the variety and the second name refers to the actual (modern / current) variety. So – example – Hallertau Magnum would be: Hallertau as the geographic origin, and the Magnum refers to the variety of the hop. Some heirloom fruit and vegetable seeds do this as well, or do something similar but naming its pedigree rather than geographic origin. Some more modern and newer hops, have just one name, like Cascade hops, which name comes from the Cascade mountains of Oregon.

The three different classes for hops are: bittering hops, aroma hops (including noble hops), and dual-purpose hops (which; just as the name implies – they contribute to both bittering and aroma). About 60% of hop production is aroma hops, primarily for IPAs and due to IPAs growth in the craft beer sphere.

Before moving on, at the bottom of this page is pull-down tabs for each of the classes, with information and some examples of hops of each type. The next page is a discussion page talking about home brewing and what hops you have used, I posted the following:

I grow my own hops, and love using the types I grow – Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, Nugget, and Saaz. I like making a wet-cone and dry hop IPA at harvest time using the Cascade and Centennial, as well as Chinook. I’ve also done a clone of Troegs’ Nugget Nectar as well.

I have pictures of my hops on my blog and the blog’s Facebook page.
https://thebeerthrillers.home.blog/

The following page is a three-question (true or false) quiz.

Moving on, we come to the alpha acids. And we’re starting to get into some ‘real science’ here. This page has the molecule diagrams, and discusses what acids and molecules are in the alpha acids and in the hops.

The five alpha acid molecules found in hop resin are cohumulone, humulone, adhumulone, prehumulone and posthumulone. These molecules differ only slightly from each other in their molecular structures depending on the side chain at the C2 position (see table). The most important alpha acids are cohumulone and humulone. Their content can be up to 50% of the total alpha acid fraction. Adhumulone is the third most important alpha acid representing around 10-15% of alpha acids across different varieties. Each of these molecules results in a different type or quality of bitterness. Cohumulone is for example believed to contribute to a rough and harsh bitterness. Therefore, the cohumulone content of bitter hops can be high, while a high fraction is not desired for aroma hops.
Alpha acids are commonly present in the range of 2 up to 20% (w/w) of the hop cone content. Importantly, these alpha acids themselves are not causing bitterness, they are the precursors. Only during boiling, the alpha acids are converted into iso-alpha acids (isomers of the respective alpha acids) via a thermal isomerization reaction (acyloin-type ring contraction). These iso-alpha acids are the principal source of bitterness in beer. In addition, iso-alpha acids are more soluble in water compared to the alpha acid precursors.
EdX: The Science of Beer Brewing – Alpa Acids

As you might have guessed, the next page is about the beta acids, and is similar, showing the chemical chains and discussing their molecular makeups. Both of these pages are fascinating with their diagrams of the chemical structures and the nuance knowledge it provides about these alpha and beta acids in hops.

The next page is ‘intermezzo on determining beer bitterness’ and is a text page. This page discusses determining beer bitterness and figuring out a beer’s IBU. An important note at the end of the page: “Importantly, IBU values do not necessarily match the bitterness as it is actually perceived when drinking the beer. Perceived bitterness can be influenced by for example, alcohol level, residual sugars and the use of roasted malts. ” (EDX – Science of Beer Brewing.)

Our next page is about essential oils – and no, its not that crap your wife’s friend Karen keeps trying to sell her; this is about hops essential oils. This is a very long page, with a large chart, followed by pull tabs of lots of information. This is followed up by a page on polyphenols. After this is a tough quiz, so you better have studied.

We next have an expert clip from Professor Thomas Shellhammer about dry hopping. After his informative 8 minute video is a 3 minute video by Stijn about hopping techniques. There is then a few pull tabs of information, and another video by Stijn – summary.

The next page is all about hop products. It discusses hop pellets, hop extracts, pre-isomerised hop products, reduced pre-isomerised hop products, and hop aroma products. The next page is another quiz.

The following page is a verified track learner page about ‘favorite hops’ and ‘popular hops’. After that is a discussion page on spices before we get into the spices segment of this module.

Spices have been used since beer was first brewed, but really used in medieval times. They were used for preserving the beer a bit longer, aroma, flavor, and to mask off-flavors. Some popular spices were: juniper, anise seeds, caraway and coriander seeds. Gruit was especially popular during this time (pre-hops). Some spices that would have been a part of gruit was: yarrow root, juniper berries, ginger, sage and rosemary. We still commonly use spices in Belgian beers, particularly witbiers, these spices are: coriander seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange peel. Regional and seasonal beers will often use seasonal spices and flavors (like yam / pumpkin beers and winter warmers).

There is a lengthy chart at the bottom of this page, detailing what spices can be used (or at least what are commonly used), how they are used, what part is used, the flavor they impart, beer examples, and some bonus comments.

Clicking NEXT we come to a page with the aroma compounds of spices. This page lists their chemical structures, aroma compounds, and where these compounds are found. After this, we have a 3 minute expert clip from Dr. Gert De Rouck about spices. This is followed by a 4 minute video for the ‘Do It Yourself’ experiment for this module.

Following the video is a discussion about the experiment; I wrote:

I took a pretty non-descript pale ale brewed by a friend homebrewer that didn’t have much more than just a “Mr Beer” flavor kit to it, so it was relatively bland (but fine and acceptable beer). I experimented using coca nibs and vanilla to try and give it a bit of a cookies and cream flavor to it (or at least a punch in that direction).

I was amazed at how it did certainly pick up those flavors. Though I don’t think taste-wise it turned out necessarily the best, but it did definitely pick up the flavors of the nibs and vanilla.

After this is a verified track learner page (spiced beers). Followed by a “quick knowledge check”. After the quiz is a page about what materials to collect for Module Five. Following this is the typical ‘overview and check’ page at the end of each module. Then there is an assessment page for verified track learners. After that is the feedback and questions page that ends each module. Once you click NEXT you will be brought to the “congratulations you finished Module Four”. Clicking NEXT again will bring you to the intro page for Module Five.

So follow with me next time when we move onto the next important ingredient in brewing: YEAST.

Cheers everyone!

-B. Kline

Hoppy Easter – IPAs

BKline — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 00:00:50 +0000

In honor of Easter (and what a weird Easter this is too), and since we’ve all been stuck inside all day. I figured I’d do a listicle of some of the IPAs we’ve reviewed. I’ve done a few other listicle articles (not too many, as I’m not a huge fan of them), but I figured its been a while, and since its Easter, lets do a “hoppy” one about the various IPAs we’ve reviewed.

Firstly, the other listicles I’ve done:
* Our Most Viewed Articles (September, 2019)
* Some Old Posts (September, 2019)

From our friends at Let Us Drink Beer Blog:

ETA IPA by Wild Leap Brew Co.

Beer Review: ETA IPA (Wild Leap Brew Co.)

Beer Reviews by J. Doncevic:

Colonization by Adroit Theory

Beer Review: Colonization (Adroit Theory)

Beer Review: EBK – Gashadokuro (Ghost 782) – Adroit Theory

Envie and and Envie 4XDH by Parish Brewing

Beer Reviews: Envie and Envie 4XDH (Parish Brewing)

Beer Review: Ekuanot Astronaut (BAREbottle Brewing Co.)

Ghost in the Machine by Parish Brewing

Beer Review: Ghost In The Machine (Parish Brewing Co.)

Enigma by Anchorage Brewing

Beer Review: Enigma (Anchorage Brewing Company)

Ectogasm by Drekker

Beer Review: Ectogasm (Drekker Brewing Co.)

After a few months of us doing the beer reviews, I added the category – styles; where you can click through to find your favorite style or if you want to check out reviews for a particular style. I haven’t gotten to go back through and add the old reviews to the new categories, but I will. In the mean-time, we currently have 26 (and growing) in the IPA Category. You can find it by clicking it here: Categories: Style: IPA.

IPA Beer Reviews by B. Kline:

40th Anniversary Ale by Sierra Nevada

Beer Review: 40th Hoppy Anniversary Ale (Sierra Nevada Brewing Company)

Icicle by New Trail Brewing

Beer Review: Icicle (New Trail Brewing Co)

Trial by Wombat by Thin Man Brewing

Beer Review: Trial by Wombat (Thin Man Brewery)

Furious IPA by Surly Brewing

Beer Review: Furious IPA (Surly Brewing)

Back to Reality by Three 3s Brewing

Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Pete’s Secret Stache by Revision Brewing

Beer Review: Petes Secret Stache (Revision Brewing Company)

Loki by Karl Larsen at Newfangled Brew Works

Beer Review: Loki – Wild IPA (Newfangled Brew Works)

Doppelganger by Tree House Brewing

Beer Review: Doppelgänger (Tree House Brewing)

This is the Way by Broken Goblet

Beer Review: This is The Way (Broken Goblet)

Julius by Tree House Brewing

Beer Review: Julius (Tree House Brewing)

The Hog by Boneshire Brew Works

Beer Review: The Hog (Boneshire Brew Works)

Citraquench’l by Heist Brewing

Beer Review: Citraquench’l (Heist Brewery)

Moon of Vega by Equilibrium Brewing

Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewing)

Paradise Lost by Southern Prohibition Brewing

Beer Review: Paradise Lost (Southern Prohibition Brewing)

Fuzzy Nudge named by Ffej by Troegs Independent Brewing

Beer Review: Fuzzy Nudge (Troegs Independent Brewing)

King Sue by Toppling Goliath

Beer Review: King Sue (Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.)

And there are plenty more too! From breweries like Boneshire Brew Works, The Millworks, Tattered Flag, South County, New Trail, Troegs Brewing, Anchorage Brewing, Rotunda Brewing, ZeroDay Brewing, Newfangled Brew Works, and so many more! With more getting added constantly.

We’ve been running this blog since late May last year. I (B. Kline) have done a few podcasts (for both beer and pop culture). I am also doing a Beer Education series right now, with a running table of contents. You can see the table of contents (so far) below:

The Beer Education Series:
* Beer Education: Series
* Beer Education: Syllabus
* Beer Education: Introduction
* Beer Education: Module One: The History of Beer Brewing
* Beer Education: Module Two: Barley and Malting
* Beer Education: Module Three: Water

Hopefully (fingers crossed) there will most likely be Module Four released and posted tomorrow.

I hope everyone had a wonderful, hoppy, and happy Easter. It wasn’t my usual, but it was an Easter spent with family. So that in and of itself made it a good day. Got to do some grilling for Easter dinner:

Grilling Easter Dinner

Nothing beats grilling and drinking a wonderful (D)IPA like Time Keeper by Fourscore Beer Co.

So from us here at The Beer Thrillers to your family, we hope you had a wonderful hoppy Easter. Please stay safe, and cheers everyone!

Have a Hoppy Easter!

Hoppy Easter - The Beer Thrillers

The Battle of the Breweries 2025 Champion Is…

The Battle of the Breweries 2025 Champion is…

Allusion Brewing Company

Finals Breakdown

List of Champions

For more information on the past winners

For More Information on Allusion Brewing Company

More of Our Articles About Allusion Brewing Company

Battle of the Breweries 2025 Links

Rules, Guidelines, List of Competitors

Voting Pages

Results Pages

Thank You

Thank You For Reading

Hop Into Easter: Exploring Central PA’s Finest Hoppy Brews

1. Troegs Independent Brewing – Perpetual IPA

2. Pizza Boy Brewing – Frontside Lipside

3. South County Brewing Co. – Liminal Moment

4. Ever Grain Brewing Co. – Joose Juicy IPA

5. Appalachian Brewing Company – Hoppy Trails IPA

See Also

Thank You For Reading

Hoppy Easter – Five Great Central PA IPAs (2023)

Hoppy Easter

Five Great Hoppy Central PA IPAs

Green Machine – Boneshire Brew Works

Lollihop by Troegs Independent Craft Brewing

Silent Disco by Funk Brewing

Broken Heels by New Trail Brewing Company

Annville iPA by Rotunda Brewing Company

Hoppiest of Easters

Thank You For Reading

Beer Education: Module Four: Hops and Spices

Hoppy Easter – IPAs

From our friends at Let Us Drink Beer Blog:

Beer Reviews by J. Doncevic:

IPA Beer Reviews by B. Kline: