IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HOPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING AN EXTRACT THEREFROM
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
County of Middlesex Gentleman for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF HOPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING AN EXTRACT
THEREFROM" communicated to him from Louis Boulé a person resident at
Paris in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th August 1883.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HOPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
OBTAINING AN EXTRACT THEREFROM" a communication [to him] from Louis Boulé
a person resident at Paris in the Republic of France
The present invention relates to process by means of which an extract of hops is
obtained which complies with all the requirements of the brewer and is not subject
to the rapid deterioration and other disadvantages resulting from the processes
heretofore employed. The said invention consists in mixing or combining the
bracts or leaflets of the hop with the lupuline or lupulite itself as hereinafter
described. The volume of the cones of the hop plant forms an obstacle to the
preservation of the odoriferous principles which become rapidly oxidised and
destroyed by exposure to the atmosphere. The lupuline or lupulite occupies a
small space relatively to the cones but when accumulated in a mass by itself it is
liable to become heated and in a short time loses its valuable properties. According
to the present invention the lupuline is preserved by mixing it with inert matter
consisting of a pulverulent extract of the bracts or leaflets from which the lupuline
has been removed. The improved process comprises two operations namely first,
The mechanical separation of the lupuline or lupulite and secondly: The extraction
in vacuo of the fixed matter contained in the bracts or leaflets.
In order to treat hops according to this Invention the plant is preferably taken
soon after the harvest and dried rapidly to brittleness at a temperature of about

page_text: twenty degrees centigrade in dry air. The hop cones are then sifted on specially
constructed sieves through which small fragments of the leaflets are allowed to
pass along with the lupuline. The lupuline thus obtained is placed on one side
and the fragments of leaflets act as insulators assisting in its preservation until it
is mixed with the dry extract prepared as hereinafter described.
The leaflets from which the fupuline has been separated are treated by lixiviation
until they cease to colour the water and have lost their bitter flavour. The liquor
is rapidly evaporated and the dry extract is obtained in a vacuum. This extract
reduced to a fine powder is mixed by means of a wood or bone spatula with the
lupuline which has been separated by sifting from the greater part of the fragments
of the leaflets as hereinbefore described. The complete extract thus obtained is
enclosed in airtight receptacles and is capable of retaining its valuable properties
for a considerable period whilst its portability and condition greatly facilitate its
employment in the brewery.
The strength and qualities of the extract being accurately ascertained or gauged
it suffices to introduce a quantity of the extract corresponding to a given measure
of ordinary hops into the boiling wort say about five minutes before running off
the latter. Thus the wort is supplied at once with all the extractive matter and
all the resinous tannic, and aromatic principles of hops the cellulose or superfluous
part of the cones being alone omitted. The extractive matter dissolves rapidly
and the lupuline remains in contact with the liquid during the whole time of the
fermentation. It is advantageous to place the hops in contact with the liquid
during the fermentation as the product thus obtained is more aromatic and may be
preserved in better condition.
The fermentation acts more efficiently being at once a slow and a powerful force
which promotes the solution and especially the combination of the principles of the
hops whereas a prolonged boiling seriously injures the tixed principles and destroys
the volatile principles by evaporation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Patent Office on the 23rd February
1884.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex'
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HOPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
OBTAINING AN EXTRACT THEREFROM a communication to me from Louis Boulé
a person resident at Paris in the Republic of France
,,
It has heretofore been difficult to preserve the aromá and valuable properties of
hops for any considerable length of time they in the course of time say after about
a year acquire a cheesy odour due to the oxidation of the volatile oil which
gradually becomes converted into valerianic acid. This arises from the lupuline
(farina or nectarium) being distributed in the form of a powder over a large surface
exposed to the air which produces a powerful oxidising action. Many attempts
have been made to prevent this rapid and deep oxidation. Sulphuration com-
pression and enclosing in vacuo have been tried but without succ ss. The volatile.
and extractive parts of the plant have sometimes been separated by lixiviation or
distillation but extracts thus obtained deteriorate and it is found that the aroma.
of the hop is destroyed by distillation. Extracting the essential oil of hops by
means of ether or sulphide of carbon has also been tried but such processes have
failed to yield any practical result.
The present Invention relates to a process by means of which an extract of hops
is obtained which complies with all the requirements of the brewer and is not.
subjected to the rapid deterioration and other disadvantages resulting from the
processes heretofore employed. The said Invention consists in mixing or com-,
bining with the lupuline or lupulite inert matter obtained by utilising the bracts:
or leaflets of the hop as hereinafter described. The volume of the cones of the
hop plant forms an obstacle to the preservation of the valuable aromatic principles.
which become rapidly oxidised and destroyed by exposure to the atmosphere. The
lupuline or lupulite occupies a small space relatively to the cones but when.
accumulated in a mass by itself it is liable to become heated and in a short time
loses its valuable properties.
According to the present Invention the lupuline is preserved by mixing it with
inert matter consisting of a pulverulent extract of the bracts or leaflets from
which the lupuline has been removed. The improved process comprises two
operations namely, First: The mechanical separation of the lupuline or lupulite
and Secondly: The extraction in vacuo of the fixed extractive matter contained in
the bracts or leaflets.
In order to treat hops according to this Invention the plant is preferably taken
soon after picking and dried rapidly to brittleness at a temperature of about
twenty degrees Centigrade in dry air. When the hops are thus dried the usual
practice is to allow them to absorb a little moisture in order that they may not be
liable to break and waste the lupuline in the subsequent manipulation connected
with the pocketing. The hops as prepared for treatment according to this
Invention are however thoroughly dried in the first instance and the cones are
then sifted on sieves through which small fragments of the leaflets are allowed to
pass along with the lupuline. The lupuline thus obtained is placed on one side
and the fragments of leaflets act as insulators assisting in its preservation until it
is mixed with the dry extract prepared as hereinafter described. The leaflets from
which the lupuline has been separated are treated by lixiviation until they cease
to colour the water and no longer impart to it a bitter flavour. The liquor is
rapidly evaporated and the dry extract is obtained in a vacuum. This extract

page_text: reduced to a fine powder is mixed by means of a wood or bone spatula with the
lupuline which has been separated by sifting from the greater part of the fragments
of the leaflets as herein before described. The product or extract thus obtained
and termed by my foreign correspondent "normal hops" is enclosed in air tight
receptacles and is capable of retaining its valuable properties for a considerable
period whilst its portability and condition greatly facilitate its employinent in the
brewery.
The strength and qualities of this extract or "normal hops" being accurately
ascertained or gauged beforehand it suffices to introduce a quantity of the said
extract corresponding or equivalent to a given measure of ordinary hops into the
wort preferably about five minutes before running off the latter. Thus the wort is
supplied at once with all the extractive matter and all the resinous tannic and
aromatic principles of hops the cellulose or superfluous part of the cones being
alone omitted. The extractive matter dissolves rapidly and the lupuline remains
in contact with the liquid during the whole time of the fermentation which is an
advantage as the product thus obtained is more aromatic and may be preserved in
better condition than would otherwise be the case.
The fermentation acts more efficiently being at once a slow and a powerful force
which promotes the solution and especially the combination of the principles of the
hops whereas a prolonged boiling seriously injures the fixed principles and destroys
tho volatile principles by evaporation.
The chief advantages resulting from the employment of the extract obtained as
herein beforo described are facility and economy in transport effectual preservation
of the aromatic and other properties and facility for manipulation in the brewery
whereby the process of brewing is enabled to be conducted with greater certainty
and precision.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
cffect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
The treatment of hops for obtaining therefrom an extract consisting of the fixed
extractive matter of the bracts or leaflets combined with the lupuline or valuable
principle of the hop plant substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Johnson have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal this twenty second day of February One thousand eight
liundred and eighty four.
T
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