Episode 160 | Aqueous Hop Extracts w/ Shaelyn Maloney & Jeff Dailey
Jun 19, 2024
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Shaelyn Maloney and Jeff Dailey from John I. Haas talk about the innovative water-based hop extract HopKick, its clear and soluble nature, benefits over CO2 extracts, sustainability advantages, and versatile applications in various beverages like seltzers, energy drinks, and CBD-based beverages. They discuss the development process, flavor enhancements, and the concept of 'hop kick' in creating natural and rounded flavor profiles with fewer steps.
HopKick offers a clear, flowable, and completely soluble addition to beverages, ensuring true hop flavors without residues.
HopKick promotes sustainability by reducing oxidation risks, supporting clean label practices and efficient brewing.
HopKick demonstrates innovation through consumer acceptance, industry adoption, and versatile enhancement of various beverages.
Deep dives
Characteristics of Hopkick
Hopkick, a new water-based hop product developed by John I. Haas called Hopkick, offers a distinct advantage over traditional CO2-based extracts. It is clear, flowable, and completely soluble in cold-side beverage operations, providing a seamless addition to various beverages without residue or separation. The product is 100% hop-derived, ensuring specific varieties like Citra are true to type, delivering the intended flavor profile without vegetative material residue, promoting sustainability and clean label practices.
Advantages of Hopkick in Brewing
Hopkick stands out for its sustainability benefits, reducing oxidation risks due to extended shelf life and smaller packaging requirements. This eco-friendly approach aligns with industry trends and supports efficient brewing practices. Furthermore, its clean label status simplifies ingredient labeling, facilitating compliance and product transparency.
Innovation and Acceptance of Hopkick
The development and introduction of Hopkick symbolize innovation in the brewing industry, demonstrating a strategic response to evolving consumer tastes and market demands. Despite initial challenges and uncertainties, the commitment to creating a unique product was rewarded through consumer acceptance and strong industry adoption. This innovative leap represents a blend of vision, courage, and market responsiveness that underpins a successful product launch and industry advancement.
Hop Kicks Versatility and Impact on Flavor
Hop Kick is a versatile product that can enhance various beverages such as hopwaters, seltzers, teas, and lemonades by providing a spectrum of effects based on dosage. At lower levels, it can naturalize flavors and reduce artificial sweetness, while at higher doses, it delivers a distinct hop punchiness to create a true hop flavor experience. Through trials and sensory panels, it has been shown to round out existing flavors in beverages, making it a valuable tool for flavor modulation and enhancement.
Hop Kick Dosage and Application Challenges
Determining the appropriate dosage of Hop Kick depends on the complexity of the beverage being made. Dosage rates can vary significantly, from as low as 0.2% to as high as 2%, based on the desired flavor outcomes. Strategies such as benchtop work and consulting with brewing experts can help in determining the optimal dosage for different beverages. While lower doses work well for simple beverages like hop water, higher doses are suitable for more complex flavor profiles, emphasizing the need for a tailored approach based on the specific beverage being created.
This week, Cade is joined in the lab by Shaelyn Maloney and Jeff Dailey from John I. Haas to discuss aqueous hop extracts, focusing primarily on a new Haas product called HopKick.
The Brü Lab is brought to you by Imperial Yeast who provide brewers with the most viable and fresh yeast on the market. Learn more about what Imperial Yeast has to offer at ImperialYeast.com today.