What are strobili in the context of brewing?

Strobili, in the context of brewing, refer to the female cone-like reproductive structures known as hop cones. These structures are crucial in the brewing process as they contain the resins and oils responsible for imparting bitterness, flavor, and aroma to beer. The hops' strobili play a vital role in balancing the sweetness of the malt with their inherent bitterness, contributing significantly to the overall profile of the beer. The development of these cones occurs on the female hop plants after pollination, and they mature over the growing season before being harvested for use in brewing.

In contrast, the male reproductive structures of hops, which are involved in the pollination process, do not contribute to the brewing of beer in the same way as the female cones. The process of steeping grains is a part of mashing rather than a definition of strobili, and designating strobili as a type of beer style is incorrect since they specifically pertain to the plant reproductive structures used in brewing.