Do hops need wort to isomerize?

[IloveWorts]

Might be a dumb question. But what if I wanted to just throw hops in water and boil them? Would I get the same results as I would with wort?

 

[mredge73]

Yep. Hop oils need to be boiled to emulsify.

Sugar/extract mixes better when heated but doesn't need to be boiled.
I always encourage extract brewers to add their sugars at flame out.

 

[Weezy]

Hops actually see higher extraction rates in water at higher pHs than in wort. The problem there is that higher pH can extract tannins, although I haven't had that problem in hop teas I've done.

The pH/tannin thing is why people recommend boiling hops with some extract; to control pH.

So feel free to try it.

Here's some links:
https://byo.com/hops/item/854-hop-utilization--cool-brewings

http://www.mbaa.com/meetings/archive/2012/Proceedings/pages/11.aspx

http://www.centec-usa.com/datasheet-hops-pre-isomerization

Google pre-isomerization of hops...