This is by far my favorite holiday of all time. No matter the season, there is an IPA for any day of the year, and I’m drinking it.

One of the most popular styles of beer, the IPA or India Pale Ale is a hoppy style pale ale that comes in many different varieties.  Once known to only have high ABVs, IPAs now range from about 4% all the way up to 12% for alcohol by volume.  From a session IPA to the Triple IPA, the vast production of this beer lends itself to just about any craft beer lover.  This summer my favorite IPAs to drink have been the Slightly Mighty by Dogfish, my go-to Founders All Day IPA, and Other Half Forever Ever.

Since the hops are the forefront and flavor that makes any IPA an IPA, I figured I would give you ten fun facts about them.  Hope you enjoy!

1. Hops may be used in herbal medicine as a treatment for anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia.
2. In this country, most hops originate from the west coast.  The climate in the Yakima Valley in Washington and farms in Oregon produce the bright, citrusy, floral, and piney hops that every hop head loves.
3. There are over 75 varieties of hops that have been reported.
4. There are two types of hops: bittering and aroma.
5. Hops are the flowers of a female hop bine only…not males.
6. The hop flower is part of a small family called Cannabaceae – the cousin of hemp and marijuana.
7. 60% of U.S. hops are exported to breweries worldwide
8. Most hop breeding is financed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
9. It costs roughly 68 thousand dollars to plant an acre of hops.
10. Hops contain natural compounds that can boost progesterone and assist in milk production in women and can also ease menopause symptoms as well!

Cheers and oh happy day,

Danyelle