Hop Pellets

[pads72]

Hi all,

This may be a stupid question, are there any special storage considerations / techniques in using pellet hops?

I've only used whole cone hops to date, but my Old Man is on his way back from NZ shortly, and I've asked him to pick up some NZ varieties - Motueka; Riwaka; NZ Cascade; Nelson Sauvin; Pacifica; Wai-iti and Kohatu. He went to a local brewer in the Bay of Plenty who gave him 5 varieties (hasn't told me which!) of loose bagged pellet hops. I know vac-packed would have been better, but can I just freeze these when they arrive?

Do I need to do anything to the pellets prior to adding to boil, and how do they behave in the boil? I'm guessing a much finer trub, so I'm going to build a mesh hopstopper shortly. Anything else?

Cheers
Pads

[jimp2003]

Pellets should store better than whole cones but the principles are the same i.e. limit exposure to air and light and keep in a cold environment ideally. You don't need to prepare them before use just bung them in.

You will need to use less of them than the whole cones and a general rule of thumb is 10% less by weight than the amount of whole cones stated in a recipe. Some people have had problems with keeping the bits of hop pellet out of the brew but I have only used them with whole hops which have filtered most of it out with the break material. If you use a lot of pellets then I guess you might need to upgrade your filter or whirlpool the brew before running off into the FV...

Very envious of you getting hold of a load of NZ hops - I really like the one I have tried so far.

[Beer O'Clock]

Many moons ago, when I was first brewing in Oz, that was all you could get. You ended up boiling and transfering via sieves and filters.

According to Rob @ The Malt Miller, pellets are perfect for dry hopping. They are easier to handle. They fall to the bottom and stick to the rest of the trub.
I will be getting some from Rob shortly for just that.

As already said, huge NZ hop-envy

[scuppeteer]

Don't want to put a downer on your party, but have you checked the import of hops with UK Customs? Might be worth a quick call to Farams and ask them. Don't want your Dad to get caught out by bringing illegal substances into the UK. The smell of them to uneducated customs could be mistaken for something else!
I only say as I know going to NZ they are shit hot on importing any flora that might contain bugs or disease.

[Beer O'Clock]

I've recently brought hop flowers back from Oz. They don't care what you take out (so long as it not of historic significance). As far as customs here is concerned, if it's in your luggage, the worst that can happen is having it confiscated. Customs are stretched to the limit (like most) and focus their attention on Import/Export by freight companies (greater bang for their buck). So long as the quantities are not excessive. I was fully prepared to declare my Kilogram of Pride of Ringwood. It didn't arise. And if it's sealed, it will not smell enough to alert a spaniel.

When was the last time anyone here was stopped at customs at a British airport ?

I am sure the legal eagles will quote chapter and verse but the reality is that most personal imports are ignored. They have bigger fish to fry.

I will add as a caveat that you do so at your own risk.

[pads72]

Thanks Scuppeteer and Beer O'Clock, will do a quick check with my sister in law who works for the NZ Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries as an enforcement officer - the Kiwis are super strict on any organic material being brought into the country, down to checking the soles of your shoes don't contain mud!

I can't see the UK controlling the import of hops from NZ the same way, but take the point that they may look very suspicious!

[pads72]

Ok, so the imminent arrival of these hop pellets has promted me to build a new & improved hop filter. Just bought some mesh online, via 'The Mesh Company' in Warrington, who do A3 sheets of mesh, currently buy 2 get 3rd free, so have ordered #40 and #60 size mesh, and will trial both.

[Bribie]

New Zealand hops are certified "clean and green" and their hop flowers are the only foreign ones allowed into Australia. Thus UK varieties such as Challenger or Target for example are only available here in pellet form.
I doubt you would have problems with customs in the UK.

However, nothing wrong with pellets. They don't need to be frozen, just keep in a very cold fridge and exclude oxygen.

<story>
About 18 months ago I was in Wellington NZ for the beer trade / enthusiast expo "Beervana" and talking to a rep from Twisted Hop who make real ales etc to die for I gave him the above spiel about how we love NZ hops because we can get the flower version. He informed me that they prefer the pellets

</story>