Spectrum Vic Secret

The story of Vic Secret dates back to the year 2000: it was planted as a seedling and rapidly progressed through the breeding program, until its long-awaited release finally arrived in 2010.

This cultivar has been in commercial production since 2013 but remained for a long time a well-kept secret, as its name suggests.

Its aromatic profile stands out with green fruits such as gooseberries and quince, sweet candied fruits, citrus notes like grapefruit, and red berries like strawberries.

Spectrum, the Dry Hop revolution

Get all the alpha acids and aromatic compounds from hops without vegetal matter. Maximum efficiency and better yields guaranteed…

SPECTRUM offers numerous advantages over hop cones and pellets.

Fully soluble at fermentation temperature, you will lose no beer and spend less time cleaning.

SPECTRUM can fully or partially replace cones and pellets during Dry Hop.

Using Spectrum:

1kg of Spectrum = between 5 and 8kg of pellets.

The 200g format is therefore ideal for Brewpubs and Microbreweries as it equates to a range of T90 between 1kg and 1.6kg.

If your storage space is limited, this format is ideal.

It is entirely possible to use Spectrum at 100%.

However, if you are replicating well-calibrated recipes, Barth Haas recommends conducting tests and using a portion of your Dry Hop with standard hops at 20 to 50%, based on the ratio mentioned above to adjust your dosage.

You can gradually move toward 100% usage.

As seen in the chart above, the ideal usage point for Spectrum is during secondary fermentation. The earlier you add it, the more you'll need to dose. Fruity aromas will stand out more. The later you use it, the less you'll need to dose, and the "green" hop aromas will be more prominent.

Note: This product is specifically designed for Dry Hop. Spectrum does not contain iso-alpha acids, but it does contain non-isomerized alpha acids that, at high doses during the late boil or Whirlpool, can enhance bitterness. This is particularly true in hazy beers, where bitterness is not desired.

Storage:

Barth Haas recommends storing the product between 2°C and 15°C. A dedicated refrigerator will be ideal.

Since the 200g sachets are not resealable, we recommend planning a recipe where you will use the entire product.

The manufacturer advises using the product within one year of its production date (printed on the sachet).

Additional Benefits of Spectrum:

Brewery tests have shown a drastically reduced risk of Hop Creep compared to using T90 pellets. This is due to the absence of enzymes that restart fermentation.

The absence of solid matter will leave significantly fewer residues on the walls of your fermenter. This means you will use less product and less time cleaning your equipment.

Finally, Spectrum will also reduce oxidation risks in your heavily hopped beer.

Unlike pellets and cones, this product leaves no room for oxygen. Spectrum ensures precise Dry Hop dosing without oxygen exposure.

Testimonials:

“SPECTRUM has helped us increase our dry hop inclusion rates while minimizing beer losses during the process. This combination allows us to produce world-class beer with world-class manufacturing efficiency.” — Ross Koenigs / New Belgium Brewing

"We have seen a lower and more consistent loss rate on the beers we have trialed it in and are really impressed with the flavor profile Spectrum offers. We have used it up to 50% of the dry hop in one of our beers, which allowed us to significantly reduce tank time thanks to a decrease in hop creep and a smaller spike in VDK (Vicinal Diketones)." SOPHIE DE RONDE / Burnt Mill Brewery