Craft beer crowd hops to it for isle-made India Pale Ale

By far the most popular style of craft beer in America currently is India Pale Ale, or IPA. Why? Craft beer drinkers are obsessed with the big, bold, hoppy flavors found in IPAs.

Hops provide the wonderful bitter punch to IPAs as well as an amazing array of flavors and aromas. It’s easy to get addicted to these intense flavors and become a full-fledged "hop head."

But what exactly are hops?

The hops used in brewing are actually a flower, or cone, from a female hop plant. Hop plants are fast-growing vines (they can grow 1 foot a day!) that can reach heights of more than 20 feet. Hops are harvested from summer to fall when cones are ripe.

Once harvested and processed, hops are added during the brewing process, providing bitterness that balances sweetness from the malt. Without hops, beer would be overly sweet. Hops also provide flavors and aromas that can range from fruity (citrus and tropical) to earthy (pine and wood) and spicy (herb). Brewers use different combinations for unique IPAs.

Hoppy beers are best enjoyed fresh, as flavors and aromas decline quickly once the beer is packaged. Heat also speeds up that process. The upshot: Buy local, not only because these will not have spent weeks in shipping containers, but also because great local IPAs are available. Some recommendations:

» Big Island Brewhaus Holy Humulus IPA: Brewed in Waimea on the Big Island, this new release is named after the hop plant’s scientific name, Humulus lupulus. As you pour this beer into a glass, be sure to get your nose close and take in the big hop aromas of citrus and spice.

Deep golden in color, this IPA was brewed with whole cone hop flowers and has a big, refreshing and dry bitterness that lingers on your palate after each sip, luring you to take another.

Hop flavors of bright citrus and grassy spice are the stars of this beer. Look for 22-ounce bottles at supermarkets throughout Hawaii.

Here are some other local IPAs to try:

» Big Island Brewhaus Overboard IPA, available in bottles

» Maui Brewing Co. Big Swell IPA, in cans

» Kauai Island Brewery Captain Cook IPA, on draft on Kauai

» Kona Brewing Co. Castaway IPA, on draft

Beer news: Meet the founder of Rogue Brewing, Jack Joyce, at Bar 35 on Nov. 27. Every Wednesday, Bar 35 hosts the House of Brews, featuring Andy Baker and Tim Quirante as they guide visitors through a tasting of various styles of beers, served alongside house-made pizzas. Joyce will be in attendance 6 to 8 p.m. to talk about Rogue’s rich history in the craft beer industry. He will also offer samples. Cost: $25. Visit bar35hawaii.com.

Tim Golden shares his obsession with all things craft beer monthly in the Star-Advertiser food section. See his blog, "Beer in Hawaii," at www.beerinhawaii.com.