Hops that are 'off'

[onefortheroad]

Is it possible to obtain 'off' tastes in your brew from out of date or stale hops? Just asking because I have some hops very near best before date.

[sam c]

i was just about to ask the almost exact same question.

ive got hops that have always been kept in the freezer in zip bags but some have been open for up to 10 months or so.

i would imagine if yours have been kept in there original packaging and vac sealed they should be fine for quite a long time. im sure some one will pop up and let us know.

[coatesg]

If they smell cheesy, then I wouldn't use them. Otherwise the bittering and aroma qualities will fade over time, but this will be a fair bit slower in a ziplock in a freezer.

[Wolfy]

Is it possible to obtain 'off' tastes in your brew from out of date or stale hops? Just asking because I have some hops very near best before date.

Yes, but just because they are approaching (or past) their best before date does not mean they can't be used without problem.
If they have been stored well, they are most likely still usable for years, but you might need to adjust the amount you use to compensate for the bittering acids reductions caused by the extended storage (fresh hops are always best).
However, if the hops smell or look rancid, are mouldy or smell like old cheese, then you'd not want to use then, however that's more related to how they have been stored rather than the fact they are approaching the best before date.

[boingy]

Yeah, if they have been stored well they never really go off in a mouldy way, they just lose their potency until eventually you'll end up with some dried green-grey papery things that have almost no smell or taste at all. I've used 18 month old hops in the past (vac packed and frozen) and they were fine. If you consider that hops are a seasonal product it could well have been two years since their harvest date. I just upped the quantities and accepted that the final IBU and flavour would be a bit more random than normal. I wouldn't recommend it for uber hoppy stuff but for normal bitters, porters and stouts they will be just fine. Beer making does not have to be a precise science.

[WLassell]

Yes, I think the general rule is whatever character the hops have (fresh, floral, cheesy, bad feet), they will contribute to the beer.

So, the only way to be sure is to examine the hops and be sure you want them in your beer.

As mentioned above, hops vacuum sealed and stored in a freezer can last a long time.

Hope this helps.