Method for processing hops for brewing
AssigneeS. S. Steiner, Inc.
InventorHerbert L. Grant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided a method of processing hops or hop extracts for brewing in which hops and particularly the alpha acids in the hops are stabilized against deterioration and light sensitivity, the process broadly comprising isomerizing a substantial portion of the alpha acids in the hops and contacting said iso-alpha acids witha metallic hydride compound, the metal thereof being suitable for use in foods, until the reaction is substantially completed. In another aspect, the alpha acids present in the hops are converted to their reduced isomerized products which are desirable for brewing. The process is especially suitable for use in pelletizing operations.
Claims43
A method for processing hops in a manner which tends to stabilize the hops including the humulone of alpha acid constituents thereof against deterioration and light sensitivity, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) treating hops powder or hops power concentrate so that a substantial portion of the alpha acid content thereof is converted to isomerized alpha acid;
- (ii) contacting said hops powder or hops powder concentrate containing isomerized alpha acids with metallic hydride compound under suitable conditions to chemically reduce a substantial portion of said isomerized alpha acids, wherein the metal of said metallic hydride is monovalent or divalent and is suitable for use in foods;
- and
- (iii) maintaining said mixture of hops powder or hops powder concentrate and metallic hydride under suitable reaction conditions to obtain increased stability in said hops and alpha acids and end product thereof, from deterioration and light sensitivity.
A method for forming chemically reduced, isomerized alpha acids in hops powder or hops powder concentrate, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) mixing the hops powder or hops powder concentrate containing alpha acids with one or more metallic oxides wherein the metal is divalent and suitable for use in food products, so as to intimately contact the oxide material with the alpha acids under conditions insufficient to form a solution;
- (ii) maintaining said mixture of hops powder or hops powder concentrate and oxide material under suitable reaction conditions to convert a substantial portion of the alpha acids to isomerized alpha acids;
- (iii) contacting the hops powder or hops powder concentrate containing isomerized alpha acids with a metallic hydride compound capable of chemically reducing a substantial portion of said isomerized alpha acids, wherein the metal of said metallic hydride is monovalent or divalent and is suitable for use in foods;
- and
- (iv) holding said mixture of hops powder or hops powder concentrate and metallic hydride under suitable reaction conditions to obtain increased stability in said hops and alpha acids and end product thereof from deterioration and light sensitivity.
A method for forming chemically reduced, isomerized alpha acids in hops powder or hops powder concentrate, without employing a solvent extraction step, said method comprising
- (i) mixing a hops powder containing said alpha acids with a metallic oxide selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, or a mixture thereof so as to intimately contact the oxide material with the alpha acids, said metallic oxide being present in the amount of from about 0.5 to about 3% by weight of the hops powder;
- and
- (ii) maintaining said mixture under suitable reaction conditions to enable isomerization of said alpha acids to occur;
- and
- (iii) contacting the hops powder or hops powder concentrate containing isomerized alpha acids with a metallic hydride compound under suitable conditions to chemically reduce said isomerized alpha acids, wherein said metallic hydride is selected from calcium hydride, magnesium hydride or a mixture thereof, said metallic hydride present in a total amount from about 0.3 to about 3% by weight of the hops powder;
- and
- (iv) holding said mixture of hops powder or hops powder concentrate and metallic hydride under suitable reaction conditions to enable a substantial portion of said iso-alpha acids to be chemically reduced.
A method for forming pelletized hops containing reduced isomerized alpha acids without employing a solvent extraction step, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) mixing the hops powder or hops powder concentrate containing alpha acids with one or more metallic oxides wherein the metal is divalent and suitable for use in food products, so as to intimately contact the oxide material with the alpha acids under conditions insufficient to form a solution;
- (ii) maintaining said mixture of hops powder or hops power concentrate and oxide material under suitable reaction conditions to convert a substantial portion of the alpha acids to isomerized alpha acids;
- (iii) contacting the hops powder or hops powder concentrate containing isomerized alpha acids wih a metallic hydride compound under suitable conditions to chemically reduce said isomerized alpha acids, wherein the metal of said metallic hydride is monovalent or divalent and is suitable for use in foods;
- (iv) shaping the contact hops powder or hops powder concentrate briefly under pressure into the form of pellets wherein sufficient heat is generated to accelerate the reduction reaction of the isomerized alpha acids in said hops power or hops powder concentrate;
- and
- (v) removing said pellets from under pressure and allowing the reaction to proceed to completion.
A method for forming pelletized hops containing reduced isomerized alpha acids, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) mixing the hops powder or hops powder concentrate containing said alpha acids with one or more metallic oxides wherein the metal is divalent and suitable for use in food products, so as to intimately contact the oxide material with the alpha acids under conditions insufficient to form a solution;
- (ii) maintaining said mixture of hops powder or hops powder concentrate and oxide material under suitable reaction conditions to enable isomerization of said alpha acids to occur;
- (iii) contacting the hops powder containing isomerized alpha acids with a metallic hydride selected from the group consisting of calcium hydride, magnesium hydride, or a mixture thereof, so as to intimately contact the hydride material with the alpha acids, said metallic hydride being present in a sufficiently stoichiometric amount to react with acid isomerized alpha acids;
- (iv) shaping the mixture of hops powder and hydride material briefly under pressure into the form of pellets wherein sufficient heat is generated to accelerate the reduction reaction of the isomerized alpha acids in said hops powder;
- and
- (v) removing said pellets from under pressure and allowing the reduction reaction to proceed to completion.
A method for forming chemically reduced, isomerized alpha acids in hops powder or hops powder concentrate, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) contacting the hops powder or hops powder concentrate containing alpha acids with (a) one or more metallic oxides wherein the metal is divalent and suitable for use in food products, and (b) a metallic hydride compound capable of chemically reducing isomerized alpha acids which are formed, wherein the metal of said metallic hydride is monovalent or divalent and is suitable for use in foods;
- (ii) mixing the materials formed in step (i) so as to intimately contact the oxide and hydride materials with the alpha acids under conditions insufficient to form a solution;
- and
- (iii) maintaining said mixture of hops powder or hops powder concentrate and oxide material under suitable reaction conditions to enable said hops and alpha acids to become stabilized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.