Hops have been the bittering herbs for beer for a few centuries now. In more recent years here in the Pacific Northwest, it's as if brewers have gotten drunk off the bitter Hops brings to the feremeter- Extreme IPA has become the standard beer here, with extreme being the important element in that moniker. These beers are quite medicinal in strength. Between the higher alcohol levels that draw higher levels of medicinal constituents out of the hops and the sheer volume of hops brewers are using, Extreme IPA beers are starting to taste more like tinctures than like beers. If that's your jam, great. But, if hops isn't the best herb for you, it'll come as a relief to know that there are a lot of other herbs you can try!