Glossary
Hop burn
A harsh, rasping, drying sensation at the back of the throat from very heavy dry hopping, distinct from bitterness.
A modern problem, essentially unknown before dry-hop charges reached the levels used in hazy IPA. It is thought to come from polyphenols and suspended hop particulate rather than from iso-alpha-acids, which is why it does not track IBU at all.
It often settles with a few weeks in the package as material drops out — one of the few cases where a hop-forward beer improves slightly with a short wait.
Related
- Dry hopping — The technique that causes it.
- Astringency — The related tactile sensation.
More vocabulary
Astringency · Body · Chill haze · Ester · Head retention · Lacing · Mouthfeel · Phenol
See every term on the glossary index.
Last reviewed 2026-08-16.