Yakima Chief — Hopunion (YCH HOPS) has a new proprietary product line, Cryo Hops, that you need to see at the Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America (Booth 2001). The release of this product line includes two revolutionary new hop-products: LupuLN2 (lupulin hop powder) and Debittered Leaf (low-alpha bract).
Inside Cryo Hops
Derived from the Greek word “kryos,” meaning frost, Cryo Hops uses cryogenic hop-processing technology to produce LupuLN2 and Debittered Leaf. Whole hop cones are separated into concentrated lupulin hop powder and low-alpha bract via exposure to extremely low temperatures in a nitrogen-rich production atmosphere, eliminating opportunities for oxidation.
LupuLN2 is the concentrated lupulin of whole-leaf hops containing resins and aromatic oils. It is designed to provide intense hop flavor and aroma, enabling brewers to dose large quantities of hops without introducing astringent flavors or vegetative cone material. LupuLN2 offers twice the resin content of traditional whole-leaf and hop pellet products and should be dosed at approximately half the amount by weight.
During early R&D trials, brewers reported that LupuLN2 noticeably enhances hop aroma and flavor contributions, specifically citing “juicy” and “resinous” characteristics. Brewers also reported an average 3 to 5 percent increase in brewery yields due to reduced brewhouse and cellar trub.
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Debittered Leaf is the concentrated bract of whole-leaf hops which has been separated from the lupulin glands. It is a high-quality, low-alpha product which retains variety-specific aroma and flavor characteristics and can be derived from any hop brand. The result is an enticing Northwest twist on traditional, low-alpha (noble) hops.
Cryo Hops products are produced in Sunnyside, Wash., and are currently available to commercial brewers via YCH HOPS and/or its global distributor partners. LupuLN2 is available in hop powder or pellet form; debittered leaf available in pellets. Cryo Hops products can be contracted for future years beginning with the 2017 harvest or immediately purchased on the spot.
Product availability includes Cascade, Citra Brand HBC 394, Columbus (LupuLN2 only), Ekuanot Brand HBC 366, Loral Brand HBC 291, Mosaic Brand HBC 369, Palisade Brand YCR 4, and Simcoe Brand YCR 14 brand hops. To preserve the sensitive resins and oils, Cryo Hops pellets are cold pressed at a mean temperature of 63 degrees Fahrenheit. This is approximately 30 degrees cooler than average T-90 hop pellet production temperatures at YCH and significantly cooler than other known pelleting operations.
Developed by Yakima Chief — Hopunion, Cryo Hops represents the most innovative technology in hop processing. It uses a proprietary cryogenic separation process which preserves all components of each hop fraction, producing two simultaneous co-products, LupuLN2 and Debittered Leaf. Each Cryo Hops product is designed with breweries in mind, enhancing hop flavor and aroma, process efficiency, cost savings and sustainability.
The Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America is the No. 1 event of the craft beer year (April 10-13), and we want you to be ready to see all of the cool new stuff on the trade show floor. We asked exhibitors to tell us what they will be showing off, and we turned those submissions into these handy CBC previews. See you in D.C.
