How to Make Alpha Acid Extract From Hops

The Hops plant (Humulus lupulus L. [Cannabaceae]) has long been prized for its bitter properties in the making of beer and as a digestive aid. It has also been known around the world as a valuable herb for certain health concerns, including anxiety, restlessness, insomnia and more. It is also gaining recognition in modern medicine for its estrogen-like properties that can be used for treating menopause symptoms. The great value of this herb comes from the alpha acid that can be extracted from the female flowers.

Things You'll Need

• 1 pound fresh female hops flowers (also called cones or strobiles)
• Medium bowl
• Smaller bowl
• Mesh strainer
• Examination gloves (latex or latex-free if you're allergic)

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Instructions

Rub and sift

• 1

  Each female hops flower or strobile has two small nut-like structures held in permanent brackets at its base. These are actually glands that are covered with a yellow, powdery substance called lupulin. The fresher the flower, the more lupulin it will yield. This is what contains the alpha acid you want. Be sure you wear gloves so the lupulin ends up in the bowl and not rubbed into your fingertips. Into a medium bowl, you will rub each flower to get the glands off.

• 2

  Using a mesh strainer, sift the glands into a smaller bowl so that the yellow lupulin falls free from all of the other plant parts. The lupulin contains the alpha acid, which imparts bitterness to balance sweet flavors in beer-making, and can also be used for a variety of medicinal purposes.

• 3

  The standard dosage of hops extract is 1g to 2g daily. For this reason, harvesting enough lupulin to be useful can be labor-intensive. There is no need to separately harvest lupulin for brewing (the boiling process does that) and it's best to let an experienced herbalist or homeopath gather the right amount of lupulin for your needs.