Patent ID: 7056549

Claim:
A process for the direct preparation of a homogeneous, fluid and resinous single phase ready-to-use concentrate of isomerized α-acids having a total concentration of such acids of 50% or more by weight and in which the acids are in the form of their alkali metal salts and contain water sufficient to prevent solidification, which process consists of the steps of: (a) providing a concentrated preparation of isomerized α-acids in their free acid states; (b) heating said isomerized α-acids preparation to reduce its viscosity; (c) with mixing, adding a saturated, or near saturated, aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide in an amount sufficient to neutralize at least 70% of the acidity of the isomerized α-acids, and (d) adding water before, during or following step (c), wherein the amount of water added is insufficient to induce a phase separation.