Does HopsDirect vacuum pack their hops?

[Bullhog]

I received my first shipment from HopsDirect, and it was very beat up. Long story short, I thought they vacuum-packed all their products; all mine are full of air and appear to have some small holes in them. I'm worried about that. Have you all received your hops vacuum-packed from them?

 

[day_trippr]

Note that some vendors use nitrogen-flushed packaging versus vacuum-packed style, with the former appearing quite "flacid" vs the sucked-tight latter. That said, if there are actual holes, I would take some pictures and ask for a replacement...

Cheers!

 

[Bullhog]

Most of the bags look like this. I'm not 100% certain it's holes, but it sure looks like them, and they basically all have them.

 

[day_trippr]

Could be holes, could just be the metallization scraped off by strigs.
If you grab that bag with both hands and squeeze it like it owes you money, if you sense "air" escaping, it's not tight...

Cheers!

 

[IslandLizard]

[HopsDirect] I thought they vacuum-packed all their products

No, they don't, and never have. They use those thick multilayer metallized mylar bags, like the one you showed in the picture. As long as those little deep-creased areas are not actual holes going all the way through and leak when squeezed, the bags should remain filled with N2, and the hops inside are A-OK.

Open the bag by cutting only a small corner off the sealed flap, just big enough to dispense the hops through. There's usually enough material left to fold the flap over once or twice, while squeezing the "air" out, and creating a new seal by taping it shut. You could even flush (purge) the bag with CO2, right before resealing. Just stick a skinny hose inside that cut corner and flush with CO2 from your tank, if you have one.

 

[mac.cartier]

In my experience all the hops I have gotten from HopsDirect have been vacuum sealed with one exception, and I wasn’t able to find a leak so I assume it was nitrogen flushed.

 

[mac_1103]

You could even flush (purge) the bag with CO2, right before resealing. Just stick a skinny hose inside that cut corner and flush with CO2 from your tank, if you have one.

Or you could vacuum seal whatever is left after your first use. Just because they don't vacuum pack doesn't mean you can't. Assuming you have a vacuum sealer of course.

 

[Skeeter686]

Or you could vacuum seal whatever is left after your first use. Just because they don't vacuum pack doesn't mean you can't. Assuming you have a vacuum sealer of course.

This is what I do, but I've heard that most vacuum bags are not impervious to oxygen. So, I put the original mylar bag inside the vacuum sealer bag. This way, I've got the labeling from the original bag (source, hop type, AA%, etc.) and I'm assuming that the mylar provides a reasonable oxygen barrier after it's been smashed closed by the vacuum-sealed outer bag.

 

[mac_1103]

I've heard that most vacuum bags are not impervious to oxygen.

mylar vacuum seal bags

 

[Skeeter686]

mylar vacuum seal bags

I thought homebrewers are supposed to be cheap fiscally responsible.

 

[mac_1103]

I figure you can do your own cost-benefit analysis.

 

[terrypratt1]

I received my first shipment from HopsDirect, and it was very beat up. Long story short, I thought they vacuum-packed all their products; all mine are full of air and appear to have some small holes in them. I'm worried about that. Have you all received your hops vacuum-packed from them?

I've received both vacuum sealed and not; see picture of recent order; same hops and 2 different packaging (one vacuum sealed and one not). No idea why but have been happy no matter the packaging method.

Terry

 

[Bullhog]

Well I did the squeeze test, and on at least 2 of the bags I could smells hops while squeezing them. 2 had basically vacuumed themselves back up after being in the freezer. So that leaves a few questionable bags left. I’m feeling pretty disappointed at this point.

 

[mac_1103]

I’m feeling pretty disappointed at this point.

Tell them the packages arrived damaged. I would guess that they will make it right.

 

[Bullhog]

Tell them the packages arrived damaged. I would guess that they will make it right.

Yes, this is the next step. Hopefully it’s an easy process.

 

[Bullhog]

Tell them the packages arrived damaged. I would guess that they will make it right.

I contacted HopsDirect, and they agreed that something wasn't right; they are sending me a new shipment! Very happy that this is all going to turn out right!

 

[Bramling Cross]

I contacted HopsDirect, and they agreed that something wasn't right; they are sending me a new shipment! Very happy that this is all going to turn out right!

I'm pleased to hear that! As a cheap SOB that refuses to compromise on quality, I adore them.