Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) has been awarded a US patent for its innovative processing technology used in manufacturing its Cryo hops.
YCH is known for its leading hop research and advanced products. With a robust research and development team, it aims to continuously innovate and provide brewers with hop products that greatly enhance their beers.
In 2017, the company announced the development of proprietary technology used to make Cryo Hops brand pellets. It was considered the biggest discovery in advanced hop processing that the industry had seen in decades.
The process takes whole hop cones and gently separates the components using cold temperatures and liquid nitrogen with a single pass through a mechanical sieve. The lupulin glands, containing the oils and resins that give beers their distinct hop flavours, are isolated, creating a concentrated lupulin powder.
The minimalistic handling and low oxygen environment are ideal for preserving quality and producing the highest alpha product, a key component to brewing delicious hoppy beers. The powder is cold pressed into pellets for maximum brewing efficiency.
The US patent identifies this process as a significant and measurable improvement from any other hop production process, which is exclusive to YCH. Cryo Hops brand products contribute intense hop flavour and aromas to beers, and allow brewers to dose large amounts of hop oils with less volume, meaning greater cost efficiency and beer yields with less packaging and storage.
“It has been incredible to watch Cryo Hops brand products gain popularity in the craft beer community over the past five years,” said Karl Vanevenhoven, chief operations officer at Yakima Chief Hops.
“We’re excited to continue evolving our advanced products. We’ve just barely scratched the surface on hop innovation.”
