Hop innovations go beyond just growing new varieties with different flavor profiles. For example, check out what Yakima Chief – Hopunion has going with its new proprietary product line, Cryo Hops, which includes two revolutionary new hop-products:
- LupuLN2 — a lupulin hop powder
- Debittered Leaf — a low-alpha bract.
I’m already salivating, but keep going
Derived from the Greek word ‘kryos’, meaning frost, Cryo Hops utilizes 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.
Here’s an even more technical explanation:
We think we are funny. Anyway, here’s an actual closer look at these two new products.
LupuLN2
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 three to five percent increase in brewery yields due to reduced brewhouse and cellar trub.
RELATED: What are hops? A back-to-basics primer
Debittered Leaf
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.
The Cryo Hops line
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 harvest 2017 or immediately purchased on spot. Home brew packaging will be released in Summer 2017.
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 (LupuLN2 only), and Simcoe Brand YCR 14 brand hops.
To preserve the sensitive resins and oils, Cryo Hops pellets are produced 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.
