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Optimizing Brewery Efficiency and Sustainability: Assessing the Effects of Substituting Hop Pellets with Hop Extracts

Tracks
Plenary 1
Thursday, March 6, 2025
2:30 PM - 2:50 PM
Ballroom 1
Sponsored By:

Speaker

Miss Breeze Outhwaite
Head Of Applications
Totally Natural Solutions

Optimizing Brewery Efficiency and Sustainability: Assessing the Effects of Substituting Hop Pellets with Hop Extracts

Abstract

Advanced liquid hop extracts have gained popularity in the brewing industry in recent years for their ability to reduce beer losses, enhance efficiency and provide consistency and stability in the final beverage products. However, limited published data is available investigating the effects of direct hop pellet substitution with extracts in beer applications, with regards both sensory and physical equivalence as well as potential environmental benefits.
This study aimed to bridge the knowledge gap by producing in-application data on two unique Hazy IPA concepts, comparing a control T90 pellet brew with the equivalent dosage addition of liquid hop extracts at i) 50% substitution and ii) 100% substitution rates. The six final beer concepts underwent comprehensive comparative analysis including sensory profiling, haze stability, GC-MS profiling and GC-SCD thiol content analysis.
In partnership with hop growers, the datasets were then used to assess the potential environmental impacts when brewing with advanced liquid extracts, in terms of land and water consumption, to provide balanced insight on both sensory performance and sustainability claims.

Biography

Breeze Outhwaite graduated with an undergraduate and master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Sussex, then pursuing a career in analytical chemistry, natural products and innovative scientific product development. As Head of Applications, Breeze Outhwaite currently leads applied research and development for the leading hop extract provider, Totally Natural Solutions. Steve Gonzalez has been in the beverage industry since 1995, and has worked in Operations, Research & Development, Quality, and Product Development. Steve was awarded an MSc in Brewing & Distilling from Heriot-Watt in 2001. Most recently Steve has worked for Stone Brewing Company as Senior Manager of Brewing & Innovation and other roles for 11 years, where he has developed & optimized many new and existing brands, and has published original research in the MBAA Technical Quarterly.
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