Process for the production of isohumulones
AssigneeHopstabil Hopfenverarbeitungs-Gesellschaft mbH
InventorPaul Klusters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for the production of isohumulones from a hop extract is described in which the hop extract is mixed in a ratio of 1:2 to 1:50 with aqueous solution by stirring at elevated temperature to obtain a two-phase system, the aqueous phase is separated and the humulones are precipitated therefrom by addition of an alkaline earth metal salt; thereafter isomerization of the alkaline earth humulates to the corresponding alkaline earth isohumulates and if necessary conversion of the later to the free isohumulones is carried out. The free isohumulones thus obtained are used to impart a bitter flavor to beer or worts.
Claims20
Process for the production of isohumulates from a hop extract obtained by extracting hops with CO.sub.2 by separating the humulones from said extract and subsequently isomerizing the humulones as the alkaline earth metal humulates characterized by the following process steps:
- (a) Mixing the hop extract in a ratio of 1:3 to 1:20 with an aqueous solution by stirring at an elevated temperature to obtain a two-phase system wherein an oily phase contains the dissolved hop oils, lupulones, undissolved humulones, fats and waxes and an aqueous phase contains the dissolved humulones,
- (b) Separating said aqueous phase from said oily phase,
- (c) Precipitating and separating the humulones from the aqueous phase by addition of an alkaline earth salt, to yield a thin layer of the alkaline earth humulates having pasty consistency, and
- (d) Isomerizing said thin layer of the alkaline earth humulates having pasty consistency to the corresponding alkaline earth isohumulates at a temperature of from 95.degree. to 110.degree. C. and a humidity of 90 to 98% for a time period of 5 min. to 6 hrs., by exposing the same to microwave irradiation.
Process for the production of isohumulones from a hop extract obtained by extracting hops with CO.sub.2 by separating the humulones from said extract and subsequently isomerizing the humulones as the alkaline earth metal humulates characterized by the following process steps:
- (a) Mixing the hop extract in a ratio of 1:3 to 1:20 with an aqueous solution by stirring at an elevated temperature to obtain a two-phase system wherein an oily phase contains the dissolved hop oils, lupulones, undissolved humulones, fats and waxes and an aqueous phase contains the dissolved humulones,
- (b) Separating said aqueous phase from said oily phase,
- (c) Precipitating and separating the humulones from the aqueous phase by addition of an alkaline earth salt, to yield a thin layer of the alkaline earth humulates having pasty consistency,
- (d) Isomerizing said thin layer of the alkaline earth humulates having pasty consistency to the corresponding alkaline earth isohumulates at a temperature of from 95.degree. to 110.degree. C. and a humidity of 90 to 98% for a time period of 5 min. to 6 hrs., by exposing the same to microwave irradiation,
- (e) Converting the alkaline earth isohumulates to the corresponding free isohumulones, and
- (f) Adding said free isohumulones, to beer or worts, in an amount effective to impart bitterness thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.