In my local home brew shop yesterday I saw the hops were all labelled "2008 harvest". They are all vacuum and foil packed.
Are 2 1/2 year old hops common in shops, and does it matter?
Guy
Age of hops
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guypettigrew
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far9410
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Re: Age of hops
good question, would like to hear any comments
no palate, no patience.
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Drinking - of course
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scuppeteer
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Re: Age of hops
I've used hops that weren't foil packed (kept in a plastic carrier) and still got great flavour from them. I have had a couple of foil packs that old as well and they have been fine. So long as the packaging is still good I wouldn't worry.
Dave Berry
Can't be arsed to keep changing this bit, so, drinking some beer and wanting to brew many more!
Sir, you are drunk! Yes madam, and you are ugly, but in the morning I shall be sober! - WSC
Can't be arsed to keep changing this bit, so, drinking some beer and wanting to brew many more!
Sir, you are drunk! Yes madam, and you are ugly, but in the morning I shall be sober! - WSC
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Wolfy
Re: Age of hops
I ordered some 'new crop' hops from a trusted supplier, however I was sent some that were a few years old.
When I telephoned to complain I was told (that it was a mistake and I was given the last of the old batch, and that next time I ordered I'd be sent a free pack) that as the hops age the %Alpha acids do reduce, but the %Beta acids increase so that for home-brew use then the difference between bitterness for older and new hops is hardly noticeable.
That may have been shop-talk-babble, but the person who said it is a trusted supplier over here.
When I telephoned to complain I was told (that it was a mistake and I was given the last of the old batch, and that next time I ordered I'd be sent a free pack) that as the hops age the %Alpha acids do reduce, but the %Beta acids increase so that for home-brew use then the difference between bitterness for older and new hops is hardly noticeable.
That may have been shop-talk-babble, but the person who said it is a trusted supplier over here.
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Dennis King
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Re: Age of hops
A few times Cliff the owner of Beersunlimited has given me hops past their sell buy date he can`t sell, Brupaks vac packs. Some I`ve ended up using several months past the date with no problems. Did use them quickly once opened.
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guypettigrew
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Re: Age of hops
Thanks.
Seems like 2 1/2 years from harvesting is OK as long as the vacuum packaging is still OK.
Guy
Seems like 2 1/2 years from harvesting is OK as long as the vacuum packaging is still OK.
Guy
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Rookie
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Re: Age of hops
Properly stored hops will last quite a while. I've had hops in my freezer over five years that were still good.
If I were a shop owner I'd be very hesitent to ship a customer 2 1/2 year old hops.
If I were a shop owner I'd be very hesitent to ship a customer 2 1/2 year old hops.
I'm just here for the beer.
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guypettigrew
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Re: Age of hops
Oh, should hops be kept in a freezer? I didn't know that. Thanks.Rookie wrote:Properly stored hops will last quite a while. I've had hops in my freezer over five years that were still good.
If I were a shop owner I'd be very hesitent to ship a customer 2 1/2 year old hops.
Guy
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Rookie
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Re: Age of hops
guypettigrew wrote:Oh, should hops be kept in a freezer? I didn't know that. Thanks.Rookie wrote:Properly stored hops will last quite a while. I've had hops in my freezer over five years that were still good.
If I were a shop owner I'd be very hesitent to ship a customer 2 1/2 year old hops.
Guy
I got a large amount of amarillo when they first came on the market and were hard to find. I seperated the hops in to two ounce amounts then put them in baggies then wrapped them in tinfoil then put them in freezer bags. I used the last of them nearly six years later. Now I vacuum seal them then put them in the freezer.
I'm just here for the beer.
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tellis
Re: Age of hops
A couple of months ago I got a large amount of fuggles in that for space reasons I had to split between one fairly hefty plastic food container with a rubber seal and a much cheaper, flimsy box. When I opened them the other day I already noticed a discernible difference in how fresh the two smelt