Doing What Brewers Said Couldn't Be Done: Recreating a Flagship IPA with 100% Liquid Hops
When much of the brewing industry questioned whether beer brewed with 100% liquid hop extracts could deliver the same experience in commercial brewing, ADM's brewing specialists saw an opportunity to put the technology to the test.
That opportunity came through a collaboration with Northern Monk. ADM's Totally Natural Solutions™ (TNS) team – part of ADM since 2024 – partnered with Northern Monk to recreate A Little Faith, the brewery's established 4% hazy session IPA, using 100% liquid hop products. The collaboration set out to demonstrate whether liquid hop solutions could reproduce an established beer profile while delivering the process efficiency, consistency and yield benefits brewers are looking for. The resulting beer was showcased at UK brewing trade event BeerX 2026, giving brewers the opportunity to experience the results firsthand.
"We had a beer on the stand that did exactly what people were saying couldn't be done," said Darryl Mills, brewing specialist at ADM. "Working with Northern Monk gave us the opportunity to put that to the test with an established beer and show what liquid hop solutions can deliver in a real-world brewing application."
From Proof of Concept to Commercial Reality
Rather than creating a beer specifically tailored to liquid hop technology, the team chose to formulate the technology around a flavor profile Northern Monk and its customers already knew well. A Little Faith created a clear benchmark for evaluating whether liquid hop products could reproduce the expected sensory outcome, quality and consumer appeal under normal brewing conditions.
The pilot began at 100 liters and used ADM's liquid hop products instead of pellets or whole hops throughout the brew. Working against an established sensory target allowed the team to evaluate the finished beer and what the technology could mean for process efficiency, yield and recipe flexibility.
The resulting beer was poured at BeerX for feedback from brewers and industry attendees. ADM’s team found that the beer received an average score of 8.3 out of 10 with 97% of tasters saying the bitterness was where they expected it to be. Additionally, 91% of tasters said they would buy it.
Why it Matters for Brewers
For brewers, hops influence far more than flavor and aroma. Traditional hop pellets absorb beer and create sediment during the brewing process, which can reduce packaged yield, especially in heavily hopped beers.
Liquid hop extracts provide a concentrated alternative that can help reduce beer loss and process waste while giving brewers greater precision in flavor delivery. They can also support flavor stability, helping products maintain their intended profile throughout shelf life. ADM's hop oils and extracts can be used as partial or full replacements across kettle, whirlpool and dry-hop additions, which further supports improved yields, consistent sensory profiles and reduced storage and transportation requirements while giving brewers greater control during formulation.
These benefits extend beyond the UK market. By combining proprietary hop concentration and fractionation capabilities with ADM's broader portfolio of natural flavors, ADM can support brewers across markets – from the Asia-Pacific to North America and more. The expanded toolbox creates opportunities in mainstream beer, beer mixes 0.0% beer and hop-forward non-alcoholic beverages.
For consumers, the goal remains simple: consistent, great-tasting products that maintain their intended profile through shelf life.
Changing Perceptions for Brewers
One of the project's most important outcomes from BeerX was demonstrating that liquid hop solutions can perform at a level many brewers had not previously considered achievable and where brewers might use it.
"We don't see this as a one-off project," said Mills. "It's part of a broader shift toward smarter brewing practices. What we've shown is that liquid hop solutions can play a much bigger role in commercial brewing than many people previously believed."
The pilot challenged long-standing assumptions within the industry and showed that liquid hop technologies can be applied far beyond niche applications.
Expanding and Globalizing
The Northern Monk pilot is part of a broader effort to understand how liquid hop technology can scale and where it adds the most value. The next stage for ADM is focused on larger-volume brewing and continued evaluation of sensory performance, process outcomes and how liquid products can work either as full replacements or alongside traditional hops.
The project reflects ADM's ability to support customers with hop oils, natural hop flavors and mouthfeel solutions alongside citrus, fruit and malt flavor capabilities. These tools can help brewers develop traditional beer, low- or no-alcohol products and emerging hop-forward beverages with greater flexibility and consistency.
"Innovation is most powerful when it solves real challenges for customers," said Mills. "This project shows what's possible when technical expertise, trusted partnerships and a willingness to test new ideas come together. We think this is just the beginning."
By testing liquid hop technology against a beer consumers already know and demonstrating a new approach in practice, ADM is demonstrating how new approaches to brewing can give brewers opportunities to improve efficiency, protect product quality and expand what is possible with liquid hop technology.
Learn more about ADM's hops capabilities here.