I'm not clear what you mean by "contributing to chemical conservation". They don't conserve anything, really. Hops are antibiotic and antifungal in nature. Tha

I'm not clear what you mean by "contributing to chemical conservation". They don't conserve anything, really. Hops are antibiotic and antifungal in nature. That, combined with their mild flavor (compared to things like wormwood), is why they are synonymous with beer production today.