Hops are a foundational ingredient of beer, and one of its buzziest ingredients. Because of their potentially bold tastes, flavors, and aromas, the character of hops can be divisive, leading many casual or non-beer drinkers to assume they don’t like “hoppy” beer. But hops and their use can be incredibly nuanced and varied. So what are hops, how are they used, and why should it matter to chocolate lovers?

IPA are the most popular styles in craft beer, and craft chocolate makers are working with IPAs and their fruity hop flavors to create craft chocolate bars to appeal to beer lovers and chocolate lovers alike.

Hoppiness is an over used word in beer. Hops impact more than one sensory aspect of beer, and perhaps the best way to demonstrate this is with an unusual companion: two craft chocolate bars.

Tyler Cagwin of Nostalgia Chocolate loves craft beer as much as chocolate, and he’s brought the two together in his Hop Aged 70% dark chocolate bar aged on Chinook hops.

What are hops, how are they used in brewing beer, and what tastes, flavors, and aromas do they contribute? Advanced Cicerone David Nilsen explains the basics of hops.