What Are Terpenes? The Ins And Outs, And Why You Need To Add Them To Your Next Brew.

We asked our resident beer expert, Technical Sales Specialist Sam Bethune, about the ins and outs of terpenes and what our beer-brewing crowd needs to know when adding them to their next batch.

Read below for our complete guide on everything there is to learn about terpenes, including a hop & aroma overview, dosing recommendations and the best terpene-rich products from the new Abstrax range.

Where do Abstrax terpenes come from?

All Abstrax terpenes are derived from 100% natural botanicals, including hops, herbs, plants, fruits and spices. The Quantum Brite line is derived 100% from varietal specific hops, while the other lines employ a unique combination of terpenes from various natural botanical sources.

Why are they essential to add to the brewing process?

Replacing part of a dry hop bill (30-50%) with Abstrax terpenes realises many benefits, not least amazing (and consistent) flavour and aroma improvements. Less vegetative matter in the tank means greater efficiency (more finished beer) and affordable uniform pricing means you’re able to target the specific flavour you want without hop varietal pricing holding you back.

How will terpenes affect the flavour profile of my beer?

Abstrax terpene lines derive from a range of natural botanical sources each of which can be used to modify or enhance the flavour profile of your beer in unique ways:

• Quantum Brite - 100% hop varietal specific extracts that can add everything from notes of pine, fresh rose petals, and tropical/juicy notes. If you have a favourite hop you have to try it’s Quantum Brite extract.
• Omni Hop Profiles -Hop & Botanical derived blends which replicate hop varietal terpenes down to a batch level, think orange sherbet, passionfruit & berry hop note options.
• skyfarm - Hop & Botanical derived blends for incredibly punchy true to type fruit flavours including mango, pineapple, and guava.
• BrewGas - The dankest and juiciest terpene blends around which replicate a range of different cannabis strain aroma profiles (note: contains NO cannabis components).

Based on your trials, what are the key tips for adding terpenes to my next batch?

We conducted a range of benchtop trials with the full range of Abstrax products in a 375ml low-carb larger. It was an excellent opportunity to see the range's effects on the brewing process and their flavour impact.

• Products show great potential and have excellent true-to-type flavour and aroma impacts for hop varietal derived lines.
• Terpenes should be added as late as possible in the brewing process, ideally to pre-carbonated finished beer.
• Be careful of dosing rates – start low, dose accurately & homogenise well.
• As the dosing rates are low, be careful they are added and mixed well in commercial size vessels.
• Dosing a 20 or 30L keg with a 5ml sample is a great way to assess the lines in a tap room scenario!
• The aroma and flavour will homogenise and bloom over time, if possible allow 24hrs in tank before kegging/packing to fully homogenise.

If you have any questions about terpenes or the Abstrax range reach out to the team or visit our Abstrax webpage. Also make sure you are following our social media for all our updates.

Happy brewing!