Method for processing hops for brewing
AssigneeS.S. Steiner, Inc.
InventorHerbert L. Grant
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a method of processing hops for brewing in which the hops and particularly the alpha acids in the hops are stabilized against deterioration, the process broadly comprising forming an intimate mixture of the hops or hop extracts with one or more oxides of a divalent metal or metals and maintaining the mixture under suitable conditions, preferably at an elevated temperature, e.g., 40.degree.-100.degree. C., until stabilization is substantially completed. In another aspect, the alpha acids present in the hops are converted to their isomerized products, which are desirable for brewing. The process is especially suitable for use in pelletizing operations.
Claims29
A method for processing powdered hops which stabilizes the hops and the alpha acids present against deterioration, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) mixing a hops powder or hops powder concentrate, said powder or powder concentrate containing alpha acids, with one or more oxides of a divalent metal suitable for use in food products, so as to intimately contact said metal oxide with the alpha acids under conditions insufficient to form a solution;
- and
- (ii) maintaining said mixture of hops powder or powder concentrate and metal oxide under suitable reaction conditions to enable said hops powder or powder concentrate and said alpha acids to become stabilized.
A method for isomerizing the alpha acids contained in powdered hops, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) mixing a hops powder or hops powder concentrate, said powder or powder concentrate containing alpha acids, with one or more oxides of a divalent metal suitable for use in food products, so as to intimately contact said metal oxide with the alpha acids under conditions insufficient to form a solution;
- and
- (ii) maintaining said mixture of hops powder or powder concentrate and metal oxide under suitable reaction conditions to enable the isomerization of said alpha acids to occur.
A method for forming a pelletized hops powder containing isomerized alpha acids, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) mixing a hops powder or hops powder concentrate, said powder or powder concentrate containing alpha acids, with one or more oxides of a divalent metal suitable for use in food products, so as to intimately contact said metal oxide with the alpha acids under conditions insufficient to form a solution;
- (ii) shaping said mixture from step (i) under a pressure at least sufficient to compress said mixture into pellets wherein sufficient heat is generated to accelerate the isomerization reaction of the alpha acids in said hops powder or powder concentrate;
- and
- (iii) removing said pellets from under pressure and allowing the isomerization to proceed to completion.
A method for processing powdered hops which stabilizes the hops powder and the alpha acids present against deterioration, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) mixing a hops powder or hops powder concentrate, said powder or powder concentrate containing alpha acids, with from about 1 to about 3% by weight, based on the weight of the powder or powder concentrate of a metallic oxide selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, or a mixture thereof so as to intimately contact the oxide with the alpha acids under conditions insufficient to form a solution;
- and
- (ii) maintaining said mixture of hops powder and metallic oxide under suitable reaction conditions to enable said hops powder and said alpha acids to become stabilized.
A method for isomerizing the alpha acids contained in powdered hops, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) mixing a hops powder or hops powder concentrate, said powder or powder concentrate containing alpha acids, with from about 1 to about 3% by weight, based on the weight of the powdered hops of a metallic oxide selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, or a mixture thereof so as to intimately contact the oxide with the alpha acids under conditions insufficient to form a solution;
- and
- (ii) maintaining said mixture of hops powder and metallic oxide under suitable reaction conditions to enable the isomerization of said alpha acids to occur.
A method for forming a pelletized hops powder containing isomerized alpha acids, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) mixing a hops powder or hops powder concentrate, said powder or powder concentrate containing alpha acids with from about 1 to about 3% by weight, based on the weight of the powdered hops of a metallic oxide selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, or a mixture thereof so as to intimately contact the oxide with the alpha acids under conditions insufficient to form a solution;
- (ii) shaping the mixture from step (i) under a pressure of at least sufficient to compress said mixture into pellets wherein sufficient heat is generated to accelerate the isomerization reaction of the alpha acids in said hops powder or powder concentrate;
- and
- (iii) removing said pellets from under pressure and allowing the isomerization to proceed to completion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.