Brown hops

[palzhaus]

These are home grown of an undetermined variety and this year's crop decided to turn brown while I dried it. Are these stilled useable or are they a lost cause?
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1475348387.421794.jpg
I air-dried them in a green house with an average temp between 65-85 deg, depending on the time of day. Humidity was low because the room is currently serving as storage.

 

[ong]

I wouldn't use them. If you want to try, you can make a hop tea with a few cones and see how it tastes.

 

[day_trippr]

At least grab a few cones, smush them between your palms and give them a good sniff.
If the aroma is pleasant with no off notes they'll be fine to use...

Cheers!

 

[palzhaus]

Thanks, guys. I'll see what (if anything) I can do with them.

 

[RevKev]

Well old age hops are used in lambics and sours ... experimental brew ?

 

[Hanglow]

Are they sun bleached as they were dried in a greenhouse? smell them, if they smell ok I'd use them

 

[GVH_Dan]

Wow, hops usually only get that way after years and years of sitting or if exposed to temperatures of 160F or above. Maybe it was the sun?

They probably don't have a lot of alpha acids, so don't use them for bittering. As ong said, make a tea and see how you could use them.