gruit hops hemp hop varieties beers bitterness bitter
Throughout history, a wide variety of flavoring agents have been added to beer to impart complexity and bitterness to the final product.  Historically, these spice adjuncts were known as gruit.  Most modern beer is flavored with hops, the immature flowers of a specific species of hemp plant, to contribute bitterness, flavour and aroma to a beer.  How much hop bitterness and aroma is appropriate varies between beer styles. There are many varieties of hops, some of which are associated with beers from specific regions. For example, Saaz hops are associated with Czech Pilsners; Hallertau and Tettnanger are two of the "noble" hop varieties one expects to find in German beers, and Kent Goldings are an English variety.
