Lupulin Extract From Hops

Cool, I have been curious about Lupulin lately. Not really any answers about extract on my part, but eager to see others thoughts.

My only knowledge of lupulin is that El Cumbre's 'Elevated' is aimed at delivering an intense Lupulin experience, and they are great- delightfully close to overwhelming. The even more intense 'Project Dank' was certainly a blast in a glass, and the more-intense-still 'Father Nelson' was the most flavorful, wild IPA I have tasted.

If I were to guess, I would say that these brews are more oriented around the Lupulin extraction than being overly concerned with aromatics, and it makes for a great change of pace. Check them out if you get a chance!

 

Lupulin is the yellow gland of a hop plant in which the hop acids (alpha and beta) and the essential oils can be found. Lupilin glands (glandular trichomes, to be specific) are where most of the brewing value of hops lie.
It's difficult to say how much lupulin is in a finished beer because typical what brewers want to know is how much iso-alpha acid is in suspension in wort (IBU) which is a measure of bitterness. (NOT hoppiness)
Alpha Acids are isomerized by boiling (otherwise they are insoluble) but the oils and resins that contribute to hop aroma in finished beers are typically obtained after the boil (or late in the boil) and function as a volatile in beer, never really staying in suspension.
It's said that lupulin has a mild sedative effect and at one point in time was actually used as a painkiller. I have no concept of how much one would need for that effect, but I imagine a lot.
Hop extracts are made either through a supercritical CO2 or ethanol extraction and can be VERY expensive (thousands of dollars.) Some herbal suppliment manufacturars sell lupulin which is obtained by sieving-out ground dried hops and is available via pill or powder form.

Beware though, I have had the displeasure of tasting straight hop extract and it is among the most unpleasent experiences in my life. It is extremely bitter (duh) and blew-out my palate for more than a day. Never experienced the powdered or pilled lupilin, but during packing and processing in Yakima, I've had a fair share of the stuff in my mouth from the process and I'm not eager to repeat the experience.

FWIW most brewers use the term lupulin in their marketing materials synonomously with "hoppy." There isn't a process, per se, to get more lupulin into a beer save for just adding more hops. Pellet brewers can get a product called type 45 pellets which has a higher concentration of lupulin per pellet (again, from sieving out lupulin and removing it from the vegetative matter) but that just means your pellets are more potent per ounce, not that your beer is.

-Bill

 

My wife was helping me on a brew day at home once, and rightly found with the aroma of the Simcoe pellets appealing. She decided to try a nibble (small, like half a pellet or so). She was pretty (very) unhappy about the result.

 

What a cool response! Thank you, that quenched my thirst for beer science nerdery for the day.
Cheers!

 

I've got nerd on lock-down!

 

I have zero experience with anything of this sort, so I couldn't say one way or another. Personally, my perscription would be: Take Two Torpedos and call me in the morning!

 

Sounds like you're looking for weed, OP.

 

Thanks @sierranevadabill! I helped found Hop Soda so we deal with a flavor provider that sources our hop extracts (mostly cascade from WA but changes throughout the season due to availability). Still, your insight was incredibly helpful.

As for how we prototyped hop soda, you can try making a hop tea and add some sugar if the taste is too unpleasant. I imagine you'd be able to make a rather relaxing concoction with some leaf hops and a french press....

A lot of the pleasure I get from drinking comes from the aroma of the hops which might be hard to get from just a few under the tongue.

 

The high CBD strains, with close to a 1:1 THC:CBD ratio, will cause much less anxiety (and less of a noticeable psychoactive/thought-altering experience) than the majority of "good" strains, which can have up to a 20+:1 THC:CBD ratio.

On topic, has anyone besides Sweetwater (with their new "Johnny Hash") used solid hop extract? Not just lupulin since it has the other aromatic/essential oils; I'd imagine CO2 extraction would be most desirable for strong aroma, versus ethanol which might extract too much chlorophyll. Maybe even a butane extraction.

 

Hops extracts are used in many breweries. I have heard that Some have a tradition of pranking new brewers by having them put a drop on their tongue. Everyone laughs, except for the new guy. I wouldn't try it.

Lupulin glands have the Alpha acids and essential oils.
http://www.usahops.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=hop_info&pageID=15

This might interest you. One drop would be bitter.
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/hopshot.html

 

I have used this stuff in a Pliny clone I did. Worked great, in addition to the other 12 or so ounces of hops added through the boil and the 2 dry hoppings. The recipe called for 2 5ml vials/syringes of it in the boil for 60 min. Stuff is strong, just adding one of the syringes I could instantly get strong hop aroma, the second made the whole house smell wonderful.

 

@PaBrewSki check this out!

 

If it is the Luplin glands that have not been ruptured, in a grain alcohol, and you dilute it in water as I read in the comments, maybe it is not so bad. Let us know what you think when you try it.