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Hops

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Thiols
Compounds other than iso-alpha acids present several challenges to traditional methods of measuring BU's. Many hop compounds other than iso-alpha acids that have varying levels of perceived bitterness are detected at the same wavelength as iso-alpha acids using spectrophotometry. In addition, oxidized alpha acids are known to contribute to bitterness. As a result, updated methods of using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) and liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy (LC–MS) are generally recommended for measuring bitterness units in dry hopped beers (although models that account for bitterness contribution from compounds other than iso-alpha acids have not yet been completed). In addition to these challenges, iso-alpha acids and other hop compounds that contribute to bitterness degrade over time, thus the perceived bitterness of beer tends to become weaker as beer ages <ref>[https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry-analysis-of-hop-derived-humulone-and-isohumulone-constituents-in-beer-the-bitter-truth-of-hops-utilization-during-brewing Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Hop-Derived Humulone and Isohumulone Constituents in Beer: The Bitter Truth of Hops Utilization During Brewing. Bruce C. Hamper, Nicholas Viriyasiri, Aaron Boland, Lorna Espinosa, Hunter J. Campbell, Kurt Driesner, Michael McKeever. January 1, 2022. LCGC Europe, January 2022, Volume 35, Issue 01. Pages: 32–37.]</ref><ref name="asbc_ibu"/>.
Measuring BU's directly requires costly laboratory equipment, and so researchers and enthusiasts have made some progress in creating models that attempt to estimate bitterness units. These models are generally based off of boil time, alpha acid percent of the hops used, weight of the hops used, post-boil volume of wort, and gravity of the wort. These include the [http://www.realbeer.com/hops/research.html Tinseth] model, the Garetz model, and the [http://realbeer.com/hops/FAQ.html#units Rager] model. These models are often used in brewing software, such as [https://beersmith.com/blog/2021/09/23/hop-utilization-models-for-beer-brewing-compared/ BeerSmith™] and [https://www.brewersfriend.com/ibu-calculator/ Brewer's Friend]. [https://alchemyoverlord.wordpress.com/20152021/0511/1210/aibus-modifiedand-ibuthe-measurementsmph-especially-for-late-hoppingmodel/ Other models] have been proposed as potential updates to older models to address their limitations in regard to newer hopping techniques such as whirlpool hopping. Other limitations include differences in brewhouse size and efficiencies. For example, the Tinseth model was developed on a homebrew system using whole leaf hops (see the Experimental Brewing podcast interview with Glenn Tinseth link below).
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==Hop Derived Compounds In Beer and Biotransformations==
[[File:Svedlund 2022.jpg|thumb|400px|An overview of the biotransformation reactions occurring in yeast. Abbreviations: 3MH 3-mercaptohexanol, 3MHA 3-mercaptohexyl acetate, Cys cysteine, GSH glutathione, TPA terpene alcohol. Credit: Henrik Svedlund.
 
Source: [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00253-022-12068-w Svedlund, N., Evering, S., Gibson, B. et al. Fruits of their labour: biotransformation reactions of yeasts during brewery fermentation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 106, 4929–4944 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-022-12068-w]]]
 
The flavor and aroma compounds found in leaf/pellet hops are different than the hop-derived flavor and aroma compounds found in finished beer (other than in the case of dry hopping). The brewing process (particularly boiling), and fermentation greatly affect the composition of flavor and aroma compounds that are found in beer. For example, boiling wort and hops isomerizes non-bitter alpha acids into bitter iso-alpha acids. During the boiling of the wort, many compounds found in hops are evaporated, such as many of the various sulfur compounds found in hops. The terpene hydrocarbons which make up most of the hop oil content in hops (myrecene, humulene, and caryophyllene) are completely removed by fermentation. It is believed that these terpene hydrocarbons stick to the yeast cells and fall out of solution during fermentation <ref name="Praet_2012">[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1373716311001636 Biotransformations of hop-derived aroma compounds by Saccharomyces cerevisiae upon fermentation. Tatiana Praet, Filip Van Opstaele, Barbara Jaskula-Goiris, Guido Aerts, Luc De Cooman. 2012.]</ref>.
===Thiols===
Sulfur-based compounds bound to a hydrogen atom known as ''thiols'' have also been shown to be produced by yeast fermentation from the hop derived precursors (suspected cysteine or glutathione via yeast β-lyase activity. This activity takes place within the yeast cells which uptake the precursors. The cysteine and glutathione precursors are also found in malt, hops, grapes and rice, with levels varying greatly depending on varieties of the plants. In addition to some strains of ''Saccharomyces cerevisiae'' that express the genes to produce thiols, strains of the yeasts ''Metschnikowia pulcherrima'', ''Torulaspora delbrueckii'', ''Lachancea thermotolerans'', ''Candida zemplinina'', and the bacteria ''Lactobacillus plantarum'' have also been found to be produce thiols <ref name="Svedlund_2022">[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00253-022-12068-w Svedlund, N., Evering, S., Gibson, B. et al. Fruits of their labour: biotransformation reactions of yeasts during brewery fermentation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 106, 4929–4944 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-022-glutathione)120.]</ref>. So far, science has found that these include the volatile thiols : * 3-mercaptohexan-1-ol (3MH; also referred to as 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol, 3SH; ''tropical fruit'')* 4-mercapto-4-methylpentan-2-one (4MMP; also referred to as 4-methyl-4-sulfanylpentan-2-one, 4MSP; ''blackcurrant'') * 3-sulfanyl-4-methylpentan-1-ol (3S4MP; ''grapefruit'') and * 3-mercaptopentanol (3MP; also referred to as 3-sulfanylpentan-1-ol, 3SP)Acetylation (acetate) variations:* 3-sulfanyl-4-methylpentyl acetate (3S4MPA; ''passionfruit'', ''grapefruit'')* 3-mercaptohexyl acetate (3MHA; ''passionfruit'')Typically, in beer and wine, the amount of free thiols that are formed from these precursors is less than 1%, perhaps due to poor activity of β-lyase activity in acidic media and inhibition by polyphenols. These However, these thiols were found in beers dry hopped separately with Amarillo, Hallertau Blanc, and Mosaic hop varieties. The amounts of these two thiols were higher than expected based on the content of these thiols in the hops alone <ref name="Cibaka_2016" />. Dry hopping temperature plays a role, with with 18-24°C being optimum for 3Mh and 3MP, and 28°C being optimum for 3S4MP. Mash hopping can potentially increase thiols, while using copper in the brewing or winemaking process can reduce them <ref name="Svedlund_2022" />. [[Omega Yeast Labs]] has bioengineered a yeast strain called [https://omegayeast.com/news/cosmic-punch-new-thiol-boosting-strain Cosmic Punch™ (British V OYL-011)] to produce significant amounts of thiols from hops and malted grains. [https://berkeleyyeast.com/available-yeast-strains/ Berkeley Yeast] also offers bioengineered yeast strains that produce thiols. See also this [https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1373899592638251/ MTF thread speculating on how ''Brettanomyces'' might produce thiols].
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