Hops Testing

Accurate machine learning models can be built from NIR spectra, to rapidly measure alpha acids and other compounds in hop cones, pellets, and hop extracts.

Hops in Bavaria, Germany, ready for harvest

Elsendorf, Bavaria, Germany

Manage variability.

The female flowers - or 'cones' - on hop vines are rich in terpenoid essential oils and terpenophenolic resins. These compounds give hops their characteristic bitter flavour, and also impart a wide range of distinctive aromas.

To produce a consistent product for brewers, hop growers must manage the considerable natural variability in alpha and beta acids, moisture, and oil content of hop cones. This variability can be by block, by variety and between seasons.

Using NIR and FTIR, hop producers can analyse the natural variability in their production with much more granular detail. Click here to read about HPA's experience, for example.

Rapid Hop Analysis with Sagitto's Handheld NIR.

Sagitto's miniature near-infrared spectrometer is very small, light weight, and battery powered. Ideal for rapid pre-harvest and at-harvest analyses of hop cones for alpha acids, beta acids, Hop Storage Index (HSI), hop oil volume, moisture, and Dry Matter.

Rapid measurement.

Very affordable.

Field portable.

An example Sagitto report for a sample of hops

PerkineElmer Spectrum 2N FT-NIR being used to analyse hops at BarthHaas GmbH

Benchtop FT-NIR too.

Some of the world's largest hop producers use Sagitto's system in their laboratories, to measure hops and hop extracts with extremely high levels of accuracy and precision. They use our expertise in building machine learning models for benchtop FT-NIR instruments from companies such as PerkinElmer. We provide one integrated system that contains all their calibration models, whether for bench-top or hand-held instruments.

Hops Testing

Manage variability.

Rapid Hop Analysis with Sagitto's Handheld NIR.

Benchtop FT-NIR too.

Accurate and precise results, delivered in seconds

Available to all corporate units regardless of location

Customers are thrilled with the results we've achieved.