Hop pellets - What’s in them

[Polcho]

I was wondering what is actually in hop pellets. Just hops reduced to powder and made into pellets. Or are there other things lurking?

 

[Didge]

I can't speak for all pellets as most don't have any ingredients listed, however I do recall a packet from one supplier that stated they were 100% hops.

Having said that, I suspect citra pellets may also contain magic moonbeams :-)

 

[Clint]

And flies.

 

[MmmBeer]

the usual ones you buy are called T90, which means that 90% of the original weight of the dried hops goes into the pellets, the remaining 10% (the woody and stringy bits) being discarded. They are minced and extruded.

You can also get T45 pellets, which just contain the active bits (lupulin glands etc), but these are only really available for commercial breweries.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Not sure what the Soylent Green pellets are made from but they really add body to a beer.