Does Dry Hopping Add Bitterness?

Dry hopping can make beer less bitter or more bitter, depending on your starting IBUs (International Bitterness Units) and the amount of hops you use when dry hopping. This is due to the change in hop acid composition that takes place when you dry hop.

Does dry hopping add IBUs?

One » Dry hopping definitely adds more actual IBUs than previously calculated. “We took an un-kettle-hopped base beer and split it out into four fermentations,” says Koenigs. “We did an entirely non-hopped control and did three different dry-hops iterations. ... Two » Higher dry hopping raises the pH of beer.

Does dry hopping affect taste?

Dry hopping imparts a fresh hop aroma to the beer without adding any bitterness. It also adds a unique taste character. Adding hops later in the process preserves the flavor and aroma from the hops' oils. These are distinct from the alpha acids that give the beer its bitterness.