Tag: Hop extract

Commercial breweries, like The Alchemist, have famously moved away from using whole cone hops in their kettles, and many brewers wonder if hop extract is better than whole hops. The answer depends largely on a brewer's goals, as extract offers efficiency and consistency, while whole hops appeal to traditionalists for their unprocessed nature.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, hop extracts are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in food products. But many consumers still question, is hop extract natural, particularly given its concentrated form?

Historically used as a natural preservative, what does hop extract do for you beyond its primary role in brewing? This concentrated ingredient offers a range of applications, leveraging compounds like alpha acids, essential oils, and potent antioxidants.