US 12,059,012 B2 · Aqueous hop products and processes for imparting flavor and aroma to beverages

Abstract

The present invention relates to natural aqueous essence compositions comprised of flavor and aroma constituents from hops. The invention also relates to methods for adding flavor and aroma to beers, ciders, meads, or other fermented beverages, as well as other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages such as seltzers, flavored waters, and teas where a hop-derived flavor and aroma is desired. The aqueous essence compositions are comprised of compounds that are naturally present in hops or in beer and/or result from processes that occur during brewing or in the aqueous processing of hop cones, hop pellets, or other solids separated from the hop plant (Humulus lupulus). The present invention also relates to the process by which aroma and flavor components are released and isolated from hops in a process that involves steam stripping, concentration, and collection of valuable aroma- and flavor-active hop constituents.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A method of preparing a water-soluble hop essence formulation, the formulation comprising:

(a) a myrcene content of from about 4% to about 10%;
(b) an esters/ketones content of from about 25% to about 60%;
(c) a sesquiterpenes content of from about 10% to about 20%;
and
(d) a sesquiterpene oxides content of from about 20% to about 50%,
the method comprising:
(1) processing with a spinning cone column system an aqueous slurry comprising from about 2% to about 20% of hop solids in water through a spinning cone column and isolating the formulation, wherein the processing comprises a member selected from:
(i) a system temperature from about 40° C. to about 80° C.;
(ii) an offset temperature (TSCCFeed−TSCC) from about −50° C. to about 25° C.;
(iii) an external stripping rate of from about 2% to about 30%;
and a combination thereof;
and
(2) collecting the water-soluble hop essence formulation.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Aqueous hop products and processes for imparting flavor and aroma to beverages

Life of this patent

Aqueous hop products and processes for imparting flavor and aroma to beverages

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36