Patent ID: 11905501

Abstract:
The present invention relates to hop products, in particular to hop products for flavouring beer and enhancing the aroma of beers, ales and other brewed beverages. More specifically, the present invention relates to such products which are 100% hop-derived and which are readily dispersible in cold wort and beer. As a result of our research, we have determined that polar hop extracts, in particular aqueous extracts of hops, have emulsifying properties for hop oil or hop oil-based hop extract products. This has allowed us to develop hop flavouring and aroma products for beer consisting solely of natural products, without the need for artificial emulsifiers and thickening agents or solvents. Surprisingly and unexpectedly, we have found that our combinations of hop-derived constituents is readily dispersible in cold wort and in beer, even when formulated as a 100% hop-derived paste, and provides excellent hop flavour and aroma to the finished beer. Accordingly, the present invention provides a hop composition comprising a mixture of a polar extract of hops and a hop oil-containing component.