Essence of Hop

Syn. E entia lupuli , E. humuli , Tinctura lupuli concent rata , L. Prep. 1. New hops (rubbed small), 26 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; proof spirit, 1 quart; digest 24 hours, then distil over (quickly) 1 pint, and set the distillate ( spiritus lupuli ) aside in a corked bottle; to the residuum add water, 1 pint; boil 15 minutes, cool, expre the liquor, strain, and evaporate it as quickly as po ible to dryne by the heat of a water bath, powder the residuum, and add it to the distilled spirit; digest a week, and filter. 2. Lupulinic grains (yellow powder or lupulin of the strobiles), 5 oz.; rectified spirit, 1 pint; digest 10 days; expre , and filter. Both the above are powerfully bitter, and loaded with the aroma of the hop. They are fully 8 times as strong as the ‘ TINCTURA LUPULI ’ of the Ph. L. A few drops added to a gla ful of ale or beer render it agreeably bitter and stomachic. 3. ( Brewer’s E. of Hops. ) Several noxious preparations under the name of extract of hops are sold by the brewer’s druggist. They are mostly semi-fluid extracts of qua ia, gentian, and like powerful bitters. Of three of these articles which we have examined, one (for PALE ALE ) consisted of the mixed extracts of qua ia and chamomile; another was a preparation of picric acid; whilst a third (‘strongly recommended for PORTER ’) consisted of about equal parts of the extracts of bitter aloes, cocculus indicus, and wormwood. A few years ago one of these vile compounds was publicly advertised, and ‘warranted’ as being equal to 100 times its weight in hops (1 oz. to 5 1 ⁄ 2 lbs.).