Hop storage

I received 6 oz of hops today, and I intend on brewing in the next week... is it necessary for me to freeze them? They are in the air-tight packaging from AHS.

Freezing would be best. Fridge is next best.

I only have a mini-fridge with an "ice-tray freezer" available... will it be too moist in that freezer or in that fridge?

If its still in the air tight package it will be find in that freezer or fridge.

The more appropriate questions are:

1. How are they packaged? Vacuum packing? Inert-gas packaging in an oxygen-barrier material? Best is the aluminized mylar bag (also known as the foil bag or pouch). If you can smell the hops through the plastic, your hops have been packaged in simple polyethylene bags, which provide almost no barrier protection.

2. How long between ordering and using? In other words, how long will you be storing them? If you're going to use 'em all in the next batch, how you store them isn't going to have a significant-enough impact to require concern. If you're going to keep some of them aside for a later batch, throw those hops in a cold environment in the sealed container. Freezer is best. Rule of thumb is "freeze them when you get them" - if you haven't got room in the freezer, store them as cold as possible.

This article from Brewing Techniques magazine has pretty much everything you need to know about hops storage.

Bob

Bob

I'm using them all within the week... MAYBE saving one for dry hopping so I'll freeze one now. Moisture isn't a concern if they're wrapped in those vacuum-sealed foil-looking pouches?

great link, thanks

They lose flavor over time. One week is not time. . If you store for longer, vacuum seal is best in freezer, and if you don't have one of those, at least a ziplock baggy.