Hop Pellets
T-90 hop pellets are prepared from whole leaf hops which have been hammer-milled into a powder and the subsequently pressed through a conventional pellet die. Hop pellets retain all of their natural vegetative and lupulin material and can be used as a full replacement for leaf hops in the brewing process.
T-45 hop pellets are prepared in a similar fashion, however, after milling at a very low temperature (which removes the stickiness of the lupulin) the powder is sieved and a portion of the vegetative material is removed. T-45 pellets can also be used as a full replacement for leaf hops in the brewing process.
Baled hops are broken up and passed into an air-stream which delivers them to a ¾” hammer-mill. Heavy, foreign materials drop out while metal fragments are removed using magnets. The hop cones are milled until they pass through a sieve, which is commonly composed of 9-12 mm mesh. The resulting powder is mixed and homogenized in a blender, and then conveyed to a pellet die, most commonly 4 or 6 mm in diameter. Once the pellets are formed, they are passed through a pellet shaker (to eliminate undersized product and remove residual loose powder) and immediately conveyed to a cooling tank where refrigerated nitrogen reduces the pellet temperature as rapidly as possible. From the cooling tank, the pellets are packaged with an airtight, nitrogen flush system.
With T-45 pellets, milling of the hops is carried out at 95°C. This removes the stickiness from the lupulin and allows the powder to be sieved. This results in a resin-rich fraction which contains about 50% of the vegetable matter and virtually resin-free waste. The resin rich fraction is forwarded to the pellet die and a portion of the vegetative material may be re-introduced to adjust the alpha acid content to a pre-determined level. Pelletizing and packing is then the same as T-90 pellets.
Composition:
The composition of T-90 hop pellets is similar to that of leaf hops and, depending on the variety, displays ranges in composition as follows:
For T-45 pellets, the composition of the alpha acids and other components of the lupulin may be at any level up to twice that of the equivalent T-90 form. The vegetative matter compositions may therefore vary to about one-half of that shown above.
Uses and advantages in brewing:
T-90 pellets achieve a significant reduction in bulk volume compared to that of leaf hops. The volume reduction is further enhanced with T-45 pellets. Additionally, the packaging prevents the deterioration brought about by oxidation of the resins and oils of leaf hops.
Within the brewing process, T-90 and T-45 pellets may, depending upon the circumstances, show an increase in the utilization of alpha acids of up to 20% over that of leaf hops.
Standardization of the alpha acids content of T-90 and T-45 pellets allows the establishment of accurate and consistent routine procedures by the brewer.
Methods of use:
Both T-90 and T-45 pellets are added to boiling wort in the kettle at the same time as one would normally add leaf hops. The pellets will disperse into the wort and form part of the trub, thus removing the need for a hop strainer. For maximum bitterness, pellets should be boiled for at least one hour. For maximum aroma contribution, pellets should be added for normal late hop additions.
Alpha acids utilizations from pellets under normal brewing conditions range between 30-35%. The flavor and aroma effects are typical for the variety in question and the time of addition.
Analysis:
Both T-90 and T-45 hops pellets are analyzed for α-acids, β-acids, and the Hop Storage Index (HSI) using UV Spectrophotometry following ASBC guidelines.
Packaging:
Vacuum sealed under inert gas in a laminated plastic/aluminum foil. Packaged in 5 kg (11 lb.) or 20 kg (44 lb.) boxes.
Storage and Best-by Recommendations:
For maximum protection of bitterness potential and aroma, T-90 and T-45 pellets should be cold stored in unopened packs. Under these conditions minimal deterioration will occur for as long as one year of storage. Opened packs should be used within a few hours or re-sealed and deep frozen.
Technical Support:
We will be pleased to offer support on the use of T-90 or T-45 Hop Pellets in brewing. For assistance, please contact our knowledgeable staff at 1-800-952-4873 or email info@alphaanalyticstesting.com.
