What is Hop Extract and How to Use It

Hop Effect Hop Resin Extract

What is hop extract?

CO2 hop resin extract, such as Hop Effect, is a product developed from the extraction of the hop components that are important to brewers. These are the alpha-acids and essential oils that contribute to beer bitterness, aroma, head retention, and stability. This is different than using pellets or whole leaf hops, as hop resin extract eliminates a great deal of the inert materials that come with pellets and leaf hops, which means less trub in the bottom of the brew kettle.

Hop Effect hop extract is designed to be used during the boil. Because the alpha acid extraction is the same for hop resin extract as it is for whole hops and pellets, the hop additions can still be staggered throughout the boiling process.

Making the transition from whole hops or pellets to a hop resin extract such as Hop Effect can be done very easily. Hop extract will improve the utilization of the alpha acids and can affect the final aroma of the beer. If a change in the aroma is not desired, pellets or whole hops can be used for your aroma hops. But feel comfortable using hop resin extract for your bittering additions.

Benefits of Using CO2 Hop Resin Extract

Hop extract is pure resin extract containing alpha acids, beta acids, and hop oils. Hop Effect hop extract is produced using a CO2 process which extracts the soft resins and essential oils that exist within hops. It is primarily used as a kettle ingredient to provide bitterness, however variety-specific flavor/aroma contributions can be expected when used for late kettle or whirlpool additions.

  • Increased final volume through reduced kettle trub
  • Reduced hot-side brew kettle foam formation during the boil
  • Bitterness, flavor, and aroma via late boil additions
  • Variety-specific hop character and related notes in beer
  • Reduced vegetal and polyphenol flavor contribution
  • Increased alpha utilization approx. 5% of regular hops/pellets
  • Excellent stability of alpha acids, beta acids, and hop oils
  • Extended shelf life and reduced storage requirements

Adding Hop Resin Extract to Your Wort

There are a couple ways to add Hop Effect hop extract to your wort. One of them is mixing the extract with hot water/wort in a cup and pouring this mixture into the boiling wort at the desired time scheduled for your recipe. Hop extract is not isomerized until it is boiled during the brewing process. Unused resin should be stored in a refrigerator or freezer. Actual utilization of alpha acids is dependent on equipment and process.

Early kettle additions (60-90 minutes of extract/boil time) are used to achieve (IBUs) in beer and will typically lead to the isomerization of 35% utilization. Adding the hop extract later during the kettle boil will result in various specific flavor and aroma contributions.

Hop resin extract can be used for flavor and aroma, but may not be as intense as pellets or cryo hops are. It will have reduced IBU utilization with reduced boiling time, much like hop pellets. Hop resin has a higher utilization efficiency than leaf/pellets, roughly 5% more.

We have an easy to use a chart for your convenience as a quick reference on dosage amounts, these are for approximate guidelines only. The dosage amounts will vary depending on the brewer’s preferences. Hop Effect hop extract is typically added in 1 ml increments. Each 1 ml addition to a standard 5 gallon batch of beer will add approximately 7 IBUs when boiled for 60 to 90 minutes.

Dosage amounts below:

  • 60-90 Min. 11.0 IBU
  • 45 Min. 8.0 IBU
  • 30 Min. 6.0 IBU
  • 15 Min. 4.0 IBU
  • 5 Min. 3.0 IBU
  • Post Boil 1.6 IBU

Your recipe conversion would look like this:

  • If your 60 min. the addition is 36 IBU / add 3 ml of hop resin
  • If your 15 min. addition is 8 IBU / add 2 ml of hop resin
  • If your 5 min. the addition is 5 IBU / add 1.6 ml of resin
  • Keep in mind that any hop resin extract added at knock out or post boil will add approximately 1.6 IBU's per 1 ml of resin for 5 gallons of wort.
  • After 1.090 gravity you will need to increase the amount of resin used by 10%. As wort gravity increases, the utilization will decrease the same as pellet and whole leaf hops.

Adventures in Homebrewing is featuring 4 Hop Effect hop extracts:

Cascade is an aroma-type cultivar. Developed by open pollination of a Fuggle seedling. Cascade is the most popular variety in craft brewing and is known for having a unique floral, spicy and citrus character with balanced bittering potential. Aroma: Medium intense floral, citrus and grapefruit tones.

Columbus is used for bittering mainly, good flavor. Columbus Pellet Hops are used in IPA, Pale Ale, and Stouts. Columbus is a descendant of Nugget. It is a high alpha variety and is primarily used for bittering purposes. Columbus is often referred to as CTZ, a trio of similar hops including Tomahawk and Zeus. Aroma: include black pepper, licorice, curry and subtle citrus.

Mosaic offers a rich line of hop heritage including F-10 Tomahawk and Nugget. It features relatively high alpha acids and low cohumulone contents and displays an array of enticing aromas that transfer nicely into the finished product. Mosaic has a "complexity of flavors" providing a "powerful combination punch of pine and fruit." Specific descriptors include earthy, grassy, herbal, citrus, cedar, floral, pine, tropical, onion/garlic, spice and stone fruit.

Simcoe is known for its brewing versatility and unique aroma characteristics. It contains high alpha and low-cohumulone which has found favor in the craft and home brewing industries for dual purpose applications. Aroma: include passion fruit, pine, berry, and earth characteristics.