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Hop Age

Discussion in 'Recipes/Ingredients' started by rack04, Aug 3, 2014.

 

  1. #1
    rack04

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Aug 3, 2014
    I've got some vacuum packed hop pellets that have been stored in a -2 degree F freezer for 3 years. Should I just age these hops and adjust the recipe accordingly or just replace them?
     
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  2. #2
    Gameface

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Aug 3, 2014
    I don't have any 3 year old hops but I've wondered the same thing.

    Does anyone around here adjust for age of hops?
     
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  3. #3
    Yooper

    Ale's What Cures You! Staff Member  

    Posted Aug 3, 2014
    If they've been well stored, I haven't noticed any degradation of bittering ability or flavor or aroma.

    I used some 2007 hops about 6 months ago. I was worried about it a bit, but they were flavor hops in pellet form (crystal hops) and I did not adjust anything and they were fine. I'm not sure they would have been so great for 60 minute hops, but I would have chanced it based on the way they looked and smelled.

    I have a few hops from 2012 now, and they seem fine (although only not quite two years old).
     
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  4. #4
    Beezer94

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Aug 4, 2014
    I tend to use BeerSmith 2's 'Hop Age Tool' just to try for some accuracy, but I tend to brew IPA's where the change from 80 IBU's to 70 IBU's does not mean much. I have lots of 2011 & 2012 hops in my deep freezer that still smell fantastic so I have no problem using them.

    I've learned just to use my eyes and nose with the hops I have. If it doesn't look brown and smells good than I have no problems using them. If they look bad or smell bad, then they go in the trash regardless of what year they are because it's not worth using.
     
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