hoppy

Hoppy is an English adjective used to describe a noticeable hop character in beer, referring to aroma, flavor, and bitterness derived from hops used in brewing. While the term can apply to other beverages or foods that imitate hop flavors, it is most commonly associated with beer.

In brewing, hoppy beers emphasize hop-derived characteristics such as floral, citrus, piney, resinous, or spicy notes. The level of hoppiness is often related to bitterness, commonly measured in international bitterness units (IBU), but perceived hop intensity also depends on aroma compounds and the balance with malt sweetness. Styles such as IPAs and pale ales are typically described as hoppy, with substyles varying in hop profiles. Techniques like late-hop additions or dry hopping can boost aroma without proportionally increasing bitterness.

Etymology and usage: the word hoppy is formed from hop plus the suffix -y, signaling a property or quality associated with hops. The term appears in beer journalism, reviews, and brewing notes, and can be used in a neutral or evaluative sense.

Other uses: Hoppy also emerges as a nickname or given name in English. In popular culture, it has been used for characters and entertainers, sometimes as shorthand for a person named Hop or Hopalong, though such usage is less standardized than the beer sense.