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What Are Hops? Beer Hops Explained For Beginners
What are hops and why are they so important in beer? Discover how hops create bitterness, flavour and aroma in everything from lagers to juicy IPAs.

The Hopper
Jun 8


Beer Jargon Explained: What DDH, IBU, NEIPA And Other Beer Terms Actually Mean
Ever stood in a bottle shop staring at a can covered in terms like DDH, NEIPA, Cryo Hops and IBU, wondering if you've accidentally picked up a chemistry textbook? You're not alone.
Craft beer has developed its own language over the years, and some breweries seem determined to fit as many confusing abbreviations onto a can as physically possible.
Here's a straightforward guide to the beer terms you're most likely to encounter.

The Hopper
Jun 8


Canned vs Bottled Beer: Which Is Actually Better?
Are cans really better than bottles? Discover why green bottles can make beer taste skunky, how cans protect freshness, and which packaging is actually best for your beer.

The Hopper
Jun 8


🍺 The Hopper’s Little Book of Naughty Beer Wisdom - It’s Finally Here!
My first ever book, The Hopper’s Little Book of Naughty Beer Wisdom, is now available on Amazon. Yes, an actual book. With pages and everything. Even I’m shocked.
Whether you love craft beer, enjoy a good laugh, or just like watching a grown man rant about hops, this book packs all the sarcasm, beer knowledge and nonsense you’ve come to expect from the idiot that is The Hopper of The Hopper Reviews.
you can buy it here for free, pending a non-refundable deposit of £6.99.

The Hopper
Dec 4, 2025


Behind The Brewer: What’s Coming Next For The Series
Behind The Brewer has exploded after the Love Lane Brewery episode and loads of you have asked if there would be more. This post reveals every brewery confirmed for future episodes, what’s filming right now, and why 2026 is shaping up to be massive for the series.

The Hopper
Dec 3, 2025


My Take On The UK Budget Beer Duty And What It Means For Breweries
Right, the Budget’s landed, and I’ve been chewing it over with a pint and a raised eyebrow. I’m no economist, I’m just a bloke who drinks far too much craft beer and talks about it on the internet, but I know enough to see when small brewers are about to get kicked in the hops again.

The Hopper
Nov 27, 2025


Behind The Brewer: Four Priests Brewery - A Proper Collaboration Begins
Every so often, a brewery comes along that reminds you exactly why craft beer matters. Not hype. Not marketing waffle. Not wild accusations about AI recipe robots or some bloke in a shed typing “IPA” into ChatGPT. Just real people, real graft, proper brewing, and a community that stands behind it. Four Priests Brewery in Middlewich Cheshire, as featured on Channel 5 recently, are a proper British brewery with a back to basics brewing attitude.

The Hopper
Nov 26, 2025


Craft Flavour, Zero Hangover, And My Top Picks From the Channel
I used to be firmly in the “if it isn’t alcoholic, it isn’t beer” camp, until I had to seriously cut down my alcohol intake. That shift led to the creation of Alcohol Free Friday on my YouTube channel, and it opened the door to some genuinely impressive non alcoholic beers.

The Hopper
Nov 24, 2025


Dog’s Window Brewery: The Little Welsh Brewery with a Big Bite
If you’ve ever had a pint that made you grin like a daft Labrador, there’s a fair chance it came from Dog’s Window Brewery. Based in Bridgend, South Wales, this small independent brewery has been quietly knocking out some of the most characterful, creative, and downright delicious beers in the country — and if you haven’t tried them yet, it’s time to fix that.

The Hopper
Oct 9, 2025


Is 0.5% ABV Alcohol-Free? UK Rules, Myths & The Best Beers to Try
What does Alcohol Free mean, and what are the Top 15 AF Beers in the UK?

The Hopper
Aug 13, 2025


Can Alcohol Free Beer Actually Be Good?
No preaching. No pretending.Just honest, entertaining reviews from someone who normally drinks 8% DIPAs for breakfast and finishes the night on 15% barrel-aged imperial stouts for dessert. I’ll be trying Alcohol Free beers from across the UK to see if any of them can actually impress. And I won’t hold back.

The Hopper
May 27, 2025


What’s New at The Hopper Reviews? A Whole Lot, You Beautiful Bastards.
🚨 BIG UPDATE! 🚨
Beer. Merch. Podcasts. Polls. And... a book?!
Loads happening at The Hopper Reviews right now — catch up on what’s new, what’s brewing, and how you can get involved.
🍺 Come see what I’ve been cooking up:
👉 barrybeerreviewer.co.uk

The Hopper
May 26, 2025


Pub Pints costing as much as a canned Craft Beer!
The Price of a Pint Hits £5 – And It’s Only Going Up!
Well, folks, it’s official – the average pint in the UK now costs over £5.

The Hopper
Feb 14, 2025


A Guide to the Many Faces of Craft Beer IPAs
Craft beer is a playground for brewers and hop lovers alike, with India Pale Ales (IPAs) leading the charge as the rock stars of the scene.

The Hopper
Feb 5, 2025


Bitter vs Sweet Hops: The Great Craft Beer Showdown
When it comes to craft beer, the debate between bitter and sweet flavours is as old as brewing itself.

The Hopper
Feb 4, 2025


Spot the difference: Yeast, Malt & Hops.
Have you ever wondered, 'what's the difference between yeast, malt and hops, and what does each one do?' If so, great question!

The Hopper
Jan 31, 2025


Hard or Soft Pour (the science!)
This is a really interesting question and highlights a key aspect of beer drinking that many people might not consciously consider! Science tells us that the "gentle pour" isn't always the best approach, so allow me explain why a harder pour might be preferable. Let's break down the science and implications: The BEST Way to Pour Beer FAST to AVOID BLOATING #shorts Are you pouring your beer the wrong way? The Soft Pour (The Conventional Wisdom): * Goal: Minimize head (foam) an

The Hopper
Jan 29, 2025


Stout or Imperial Stout?
When diving into the world of craft beer, one of the most common questions for newcomers is the difference between a stout and an imperial stout. Both styles are beloved for their rich flavours and bold characteristics, but they offer distinct experiences for beer lovers. Let’s break it down: Stout: A Classic BrewStouts are dark beers with origins dating back to the 18th century in England. They are known for their deep, almost black colour and a flavour profile often dominat

The Hopper
Jan 29, 2025


The Winter Warmer: Why Beer is the Ultimate Cold-Weather Companion
Ah, winter. That time of year when stepping outside feels like being slapped in the face by a frosty, pissed-off yeti. When the wind cuts through your clothes like a knife through warm butter, and your toes resemble tiny frozen sausages by the time you’ve walked the dog. It’s the season where everyone suddenly starts talking about how it wasn't as cold as way back when, as if they've worked at the Met Office all their lives, and the idea of staying in, wrapped up like a burri

The Hopper
Jan 21, 2025


Beer Lovers Unite: Join the Hopper Community
Are you a beer enthusiast looking to connect with like-minded individuals and share your thoughts and opinions on various brews? Look no further than The Hopper Reviews! Oooh look, lovely beer! Oooh look, lovely beer!The Hopper Reviews is a hub for beer lovers to come together and discuss their favorite beers, breweries, and everything beer-related. With YouTube videos from the site owner's channel, you can watch reviews of different beers and get recommendations on what to t

The Hopper
Jan 21, 2025
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