The hop plant grows well in Washington. So well that 75% of the total United States hop acreage is in the state. It is a floral vine closely related to cannabis which accounts for the term hophead, referring not to someone who smokes weed, but to an aficionado of an aggressively hopped beer.
From the early days of agriculture until around 800 AD, hopless beer was a sweet, syrupy concoction prone to spoilage. That was until an enterprising brewer discovered that hops added during the brewing process not only acted as a preservative, but also provided a refreshing balance to the sweetness of the malt. From that point on, most beer contained some hops.
Fast forward to the 18th Century, when Britain was expanding its presence in India. The thirsty Brits were disappointed to find that their beloved pale ale arriving from home had spoiled during the long sea voyage. So brewers in England responded by crafting beers with more hops to help preserve the brew. And thus the birth of the hoppier India Pale Ale!
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