Hop Oils Calculator Updated to Version 2.0

I have finished updating the Hop Oils Calculator to Version 2.0! All of the data used in the calculations has been updated to include only the hop data for the latest 2014 hop harvest. All of the new features of the calculator are described below. I hope this new version will be a good starting point for us to begin diving deeper into the makeup of hops to explore how the oil/acid composition can have an impact on the overall flavor and aromas of beer.

It’s important to know that oil composition is a varietal average and that specific batches of hops may differ from that average value. Typically, pellets are blends of a few lots that are selected to balance out the variability to ensure consistency.

Sorry mobile users, the update to optimize the calculator and it’s formulas for mobile devices cost a couple hundred dollars (maybe in the future).

What does the calculator do?

Hop oil/acid composition in the finished beer

Hop oil/acid composition in only the boil (new to v 2.0)

Hop oil/acid composition only at flameout (new to v 2.0)

Hop oil/acid composition only in the dry hop (new to v 2.0)

Hop build composition percentages (new to v 2.0)

Estimated flavor and aroma of the finished beer (new to v 2.0)

Estimated aroma wheel placement of the finished beer (new to v 2.0)

Charts the finished beer total oil composition (new to v 2.0)

How is the flavor and aroma of the finished beer calculated?

The flavor and aroma estimation is calculated based on the final beer’s estimated total oil composition. The calculator examines the total oil figures only for B-pinene, myrcene, linalool, caryophyllene, faresene, humulene, geraniol, and other and correlates the data to every single hop in the database to find the closest match of the combined oils to determine an estimated flavor and aroma descriptors based on how we already know individual hops to perform. The total oil figure is ignored in the calculation because the previously mentioned oil compounds are all percentages of the total oil amount, meaning the calculation of the oil compounds total 100% of the total oil figure. That is not to say a hop’s total oil figure does not have an impact on a beer, I just don’t have enough data to factor in this impact yet.

Work in Progress

The calculator is a work in progress. If you don’t see a hop listed in the calculator (like Nelson Sauvin), it’s because I don’t have all of the data necessary to include the hop.

I would like to thank Hopunion for working with me to ensure I have the most up to date data for the hops they have tested and for answering my many hop-related questions! Buy their hops!

I welcome opinions on how to improve the calculations and estimations. I plan on continually improving the calculator as more data and findings on hop oils and acids are released. Enjoy!

Tryout the calculator here