What is a disadvantage of using hop plugs?

Using hop plugs presents certain disadvantages based on their physical characteristics and handling. The option mentioning "more difficult to break apart" accurately captures one of the key challenges brewers face when using hop plugs.

Hop plugs are compressed pellets that can be unduly firm compared to loose hops or pellets, making them more resistant to breaking apart for proper incorporation into the brewing process. This can complicate the extraction of flavors and aromas during brewing, especially if breakage is required for efficient utilization. When brewers are unable to easily break the plugs, it can hinder the desired infusion of hop character into the beer.

Regarding the other options, while higher bitterness contribution, better storability than cones, and less convenient size all provide some context for their characteristics, they do not specifically pinpoint a significant challenge faced with hop plugs compared to the physical difficulty of breaking them apart. Therefore, the emphasis on the difficulty to break apart serves as a practical consideration in the brewing process, making it a notable disadvantage of using hop plugs.