Cryo Hops (LupuLN2) also: LupuLN2, Cryogenic hop pellets
The first commercial cryogenic lupulin pellet. Dose at half. Gain about 5% beer back from reduced trub.
What it is, in plain English
Cryo Hops are concentrated lupulin pellets — the yellow pollen-like dust where almost all the hop flavor and aroma lives, separated from the green cone material in a nitrogen atmosphere at very low temperatures. Most Cryo varieties (Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, Cascade, Ekuanot) are roughly twice as potent as standard T90 pellets, so brewers use them at roughly half the weight. They're a defining ingredient in modern hazy IPAs because they deliver intense fruit aroma without the grassy, vegetal character that comes with heavy traditional dry-hopping. If your hazy tastes like 'clean tropical fruit' instead of 'tropical fruit plus salad,' Cryo is often part of the reason.
The technical version
Whole hop cones are separated under nitrogen at approximately 63°F (17°C) — about 30°F cooler than standard T-90 pellet processing. The cold separates the lupulin glands from the green bract and stem material. The resulting concentrated lupulin powder is then either sold as-is to commercial brewers or pressed into pellets for easier storage and dosing. The 'LN2' in LupuLN2 refers to the liquid-nitrogen environment used in the process.
How brewers use it
Yakima Chief recommends a dose ratio of approximately 1 part Cryo to 0.625 parts T90 pellet — meaning you can replace 1 lb of T90 with about 0.625 lb of Cryo. Dosing rate is typically 40-50% of equivalent T90 by weight. Resin content is roughly 2x higher. Reduced vegetative material means less iso-alpha-acid stripping during dry hopping, less polyphenol extraction (so less astringency), and dramatically reduced trub loss. Greenpoint Beer in NYC reported up to 20% increased batch yield after switching. Best used in whirlpool and dry-hop additions; not recommended for early kettle additions because the intense aroma compounds boil off. Available in Mosaic, Ekuanot, Citra, Simcoe, and Cascade varieties.
Who uses it
Tree House, Other Half, Pinthouse Pizza (Austin TX), Block 15, Greenpoint Beer, and most modern hazy-IPA-focused breweries. The 'soft, intense, clean fruit' character of high-end hazies often signals heavy Cryo use.