ABSTRAX Innovates Dry Hopping and Flavoring Process for Beer and Beyond

ABSTRAX’s groundbreaking technology helps brewers exponentially improve beer flavors, consistency, and shelf-life while increasing savings, sustainability, throughput, and the development of new product applications.

ABSTRAX, an industry leader in the study and production of cannabis and botanically derived terpenes, has officially cracked the hops code by creating a methodology and patent-pending process for reproducing the very best version of any hop varietal in the world via natural Optimized Hop Extracts.

Optimized Hop Extracts come at a crucial time in history when the craft beer industry is focused on improving sustainability and driving efficiency through downstream products because costs for brewers are skyrocketing, global climate change is making hop farming more challenging, and craft brewers have limited access to the very best hops in the seasonal supply chain bound by annual harvest. Additionally, the industry is seeking new and innovative product applications beyond beer such as RTD cocktails, seltzers, hop waters, and non-alcoholic functional beverages that require an out-of-the-box approach to formulation.

“Our focus is multi-dimensional – we’re seeking to continue investing in value innovation and help brewers with novel hop flavor solutions to mitigate product loss while fueling their creative ability to innovate new enjoyable products that can be consistently reproduced with increased production throughput and efficiency for years to come, regardless of environmental or cost limitations,” said Max Koby, ABSTRAX Co-Founder and CEO. “The results of our efforts are mind-blowing, as we’ve actually been able to crack a game-changing code that opens the doors for top-quality, cost-effective craft beverages to be readily enjoyed around the world year-round.”

While hops and cannabis are two closely related species in the same Cannabinaceae family, they’ve historically been kept apart due to federal regulation. However, as cannabis continues to make its way into the mainstream, ABSTRAX is able to leverage its cannabis research and knowledge of novel ingredients, such as botanically derived terpenes, along with state-of-the-art 3D analytical capabilities together with superior extraction and distillation methods to reproduce the most iconic all-natural hop flavor profiles available to the brewer for the very first time.

More specifically, ABSTRAX uses the following steps to help brands produce craft beer and beyond beer innovations:

• Step 1 – Fresh Hops are tested and 3D modeling of the target hop profile is undertaken.
• Step 2 – Input materials are selected, extracted, and refined.
• Step 3 – Botanical ingredient standardization and molecular distillation is done.
• Step 4 – Varietal specific custom formulations are reproduced.
• Step 5 – (Optional) Customize flavor, aroma, or effect profile.
• Step 6 – Select the final application (Oil-Soluble, Water-Soluble Liquid or Powder).

According to Ross Hunsinger, Director of Food and Beverage Innovation for ABSTRAX and a Siebel Institute Alum, “By utilizing this methodology, the brands we work with are already able to supplement up to 75 percent of their dry-hopping using our novel hop terpene solutions. This means for every half a fluid ounce of our solution, brewers can replace one pound of dry hop material – resulting in a staggering 30 percent increase in product yield and additional savings.” Already, leading and emerging brewers utilizing ABSTRAX’s technology are seeing significant savings as a result of the following factors:

• Lower ingredient cost per barrel with no loss
• Up to 75% dry hopping supplementation
• 0.5 fl oz can supplement up to 1lb of T-90 pellets
• Increased efficiency and beer throughput up to 30% from reduced product loss
• Reduce dependency on fresh hop materials
• Guaranteed flavor and aroma consistency
• Increased speed to market of new hop-infused products
• Less water is required during the brewing process
• Doesn’t stick to the tank
• Labor and materials are reduced due to quicker turnaround time on tanks
• The upcycling of unused hops materials is highly cost-effective
• R&D innovation costs are slashed as ABSTRAX carries this weight
• Customization of products through advanced sensory analytics
• Increased product shelf life from 30 days to 60 days

“I work with our customers to help them fill in the gaps and educate them on the power of this technology,” said Hunsinger. “They’re literally blown away by how easy it is for them to innovate new products and infuse them with the very best optimized hop extracts at a fraction of the cost – including unforgettable craft beers, refreshing hops seltzer waters, delicious nonalcoholic beers, and more.”

“ABSTRAX is positioned to be the leader in an emerging world of terpenes. They have been extremely intentional investing both time and money into their expertise,” said Michael Roy, President and CEO of Roy Farms. “What started in cannabis is now broadening in scope to include brewing. I see this as a natural fit and one that aligns with the hop and larger brewing industry as they look to efficiencies and sustainability initiatives in an effort to meet both the business and consumer needs.”

To best serve its customers, ABSTRAX is working to create a living record of the very best hops varietals from around the world that can be reproduced on demand. “Not only will this living record provide convenience, it also protects the industry against all odds if environment and market factors challenge the status quo of the brewing industry,” said Koby.

For more information on ABSTRAX and its hops-related products click here.

About ABSTRAX
Leveraging its proven background in cannabis and hops research, ABSTRAX is the leader in the research, development, and production of botanically-derived cannabis and hop-inspired terpenes that create unforgettable and consistent sensorial experiences. Headquartered in California, the company owns and operates a state-of-the-art type 7 licensed research and manufacturing laboratories where its award-winning product developers and scientists leverage the most advanced strain and hop analysis technology to extract and study aroma compounds via three-dimensional analysis, allowing for each and every compound within a plant to be named and studied. The company has partnered with many of the best cultivators and brewers to study their cannabis and hops profiles and create the world's most advanced terpene formulations. As a result of its efforts, ABSTRAX offers the largest terpene catalog of the most popular strains - botanically-derived terpene blends and isolates native to cannabis. These ingredients, also known as functional flavors and aromas, are used in vapes, concentrates, edibles, beer, essential oils, fragrances, cosmetics, topicals, tinctures, alcohol, food and beverage, personal care, and more. The company works with internationally recognized brands and provides unparalleled cannabis research, innovation, and custom formulations to create products that engage and thrill consumers. ABSTRAX also devotes significant resources to developing the highest terpene standards and best practices in the industry. The company has developed a robust quality management system including Gas Chromatography analysis and molecular distillation of natural ingredients to achieve the highest purity standards. Investigating and ensuring that ingredients used in its own products, and products within its industry, are safe for consumption. The terpene industry is a rapidly growing segment of the global flavor and fragrance market, which is expected to grow to $35 billion by 2024. This market segment includes the cannabis, CBD, skincare, cosmetics, health and wellness, food and beverage industries.