Hops Pellet Plant Production Line

Hops are a key component of beer—maybe the key component of beer—and we owe it to the beer to use our hops purposefully, thoughtfully, and deliberately. A good grounding in what hops add to our beer based on when we add them to the beer is a valuable and useful thing. It allows us to set realistic expectations of the likely flavor profile we’re going to get.

Hops have been called the spice of beer, and the analogy is apt: They have flavor and aroma qualities that can evoke tropical fruit just as easily as they can a pine forest. Boiling hops in water or wort transforms alpha acids into iso-alpha acids, which deliver bitterness. And the degree to which this happens is known as hops utilization. Hops utilization is the fraction of the available alpha acids that both (1) transform into isomerized forms and (2) remain in the finished beer, so the number is always less than 100 percent. In most cases it’s closer to 25 percent. An incredible number of variables influence this number, and the following tend to enhance utilization:

• Hotter water
• More vigorous boiling
• Longer boil time
• Larger boil volume
• Higher wort pH
• Lower wort gravity
• Longer post-boil chill times
• Smaller amounts of trub material

How to Make Hop Pellet?

Hops Pellet Plant Production Line Flowchart

Step 1 – Harvesting the Hops

The first step is harvesting the hops when they are ready before you go into the hops pellets production. For small scale hops farmers, the hops can easily be handpicked straight from their bines in the farm by using a lift and then they are sorted out using a mesh screen .However, for large scale hops farmers (mini pellet mill), they can use advanced equipment such as sorter machines and hop pickers to harvest them with ease.

Step 2 – Drying the Hops

After harvesting the hops, the next major step is drying them. This is done to get rid of the moisture from the leaves and also conserve the unstable lupulin. This process enables you to store the hops for an extended period of time without spoilage. The amount of crop you have harvested will determine the method you use for drying them. If you have many crops you will be required to make an oast to handle the large amount of crops.

Step 3 - Crushing the Hops

This process involves using a hammer mill to crush the dried hops into smaller sizes. Ensure that the pieces are as tiny as possible but do not turn them into dust. Rotate the hammer in very high speed so as to crush and swallow the hops and repeat this process if you notice large particles. Crushing helps the hops attain a consistent form and proper moisture content that is required for further processing.

Step 4 – Pelletizing the Hops

Use a hops pellet machine to make hops pellets. Desiccated hops go through the pellet mill and are compressed by the roller and die. The effect of the pressure makes the material condensed and then removes it through the perforations in the die. It should be noted that during the process of pelletizing hops for brewers, the heat generated may cause damages on the hops if the process is rushed and the machines are not allowed to cool down more often. (More about small pellet mill)

Step 5 – Cooling the Hops Pellets

Ensure that the hops pellets have cooled completely. To do this, spread the pellets out and give them time to cool off and dry naturally. For large scale hops pellets production, you may consider a pellet cooler.

Advantages of Hops Pellets

• When the hops are crushed, they assume more surface area contact thus increasing utilization.
• The condensed state and light weight of hops makes them easy for storage and less vulnerable to destruction as opposed to other forms.
• Since they have been compressed into smaller forms, their shelf life is elongated because they are not out in the open for heat and oxygen to get in.
• Hops need less packaging and storing space since they are in pellet form. This also makes it easy for measuring quantities, disposing the used hop debris and also easy for shipping.

Recommended Equipment

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  Hemp Pellet Mill

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  Hops Pellet Maker