Dried hops smell like tea...

[Homercidal]

Just what the title says. My hops smell fresh and resiny when I pick them. I put them on a screen and updraft them with a fan and when they are dry they smell like dried tea leaves.

Here is my drying system:

I have a utility trailer with 2.5 foot sides. I stretch sliding door screens across the top and spread my hops out on it in a single layer.

The back of the trailer is open and I stick a box fan on one end pointing into the trailer. I block the left side off so the air is forced into the trailer and up through the window screens.

I use the fan for 2-3 days. I admit I haven't weighed my hops to know what the loss in moisture actually is, but they feel just like your description of what good, dry hops should be like.

I think that packaged hops from the store have a much more hoppy aroma. Plus, last year when I simply froze my hops instead of drying them, I got a better flavor.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I have no way of explaining why but, when I first starting drying hops I used a fan forced ambient air method and the resultant dried hops had little to no aroma.

At some point I devised a closed box (vented of course) and used a bonnet style hair dryer (bonnet removed) to gently heat the air. Drying time went from several days to 1 at most. And the aroma was amazing.

 

[Homercidal]

I have no way of explaining why but, when I first starting drying hops I used a fan forced ambient air method and the resultant dried hops had little to no aroma.

At some point I devised a closed box (vented of course) and used a bonnet style hair dryer (bonnet removed) to gently heat the air. Drying time went from several days to 1 at most. And the aroma was amazing.

Odd. I had read many times that airflow was sufficient and did a better job at retaining hop character than a heated approach. Many guides show people using a simple box or air filter dryer setup.

I'm not opposed to setting up a heater system, but it's too late for this year.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Odd. I had read many times that airflow was sufficient and did a better job at retaining hop character than a heated approach. Many guides show people using a simple box or air filter dryer setup.

I'm not opposed to setting up a heater system, but it's too late for this year.

My assumption is that by adding heat (120* max) the dry time was reduced enough to hold onto much of the aroma. Could be wrong.

 

[Ladd]

Are you drying them in the sunlight?

 

[Snowden]

I experienced the exact same aroma from my dried first year Cascades: they smelled strongly of tea. I was going to use them in a robust Porter but decided against it since it is a competition entry.

I dried mine on a window screen in my basement with a small fan blowing on them at its lowest setting.

 

[Homercidal]

Are you drying them in the sunlight?

No. Parked in the garage, mostly with the doors closed, but even if they were open no direct sunlight reaches in at this time of year.

 

[Lukes1040]

I have had a similar experience when trying to dry them with ambient air. They never quite smell the same. I have actually gone away from trying to dry them at all, and just time my brew day at harvest. You only get one time of the year to make a wet hop beer, may as well take advantage imo.

 

[Homercidal]

I have had a similar experience when trying to dry them with ambient air. They never quite smell the same. I have actually gone away from trying to dry them at all, and just time my brew day at harvest. You only get one time of the year to make a wet hop beer, may as well take advantage imo.

I'm not terribly concerned with wet hop beers. I'd like to dry my several pounds of hops for later and still get that fresh, resiny, aroma when I open the package!

 

[tjpfeister]

I notice this about mine each year too, tea and brussel sprouts aromas as they dry. But, for what it's worth, these seem to go away as I reach dry-dry. I'm still not sure if it's a moisture thing or an oxidation thing, but it seems less perceptible around 10% moisture.

The problem I have each year is that I am comparing my home grown cones to commercially packaged pellets... I built a device for making 1oz plugs, and during the plugging process the aromas seem to come much closed to those that I associate with pellets.

That, or I am just crazy.

 

[OleBrewing]

Hmm strange. Ifind that after my hops are dried I get a better aroma than when they are wet. I am no expert since I am on the third year but are you harvesting to soon? Last year when I dried in the garage it was very aromatic, when I packaged my hands were a sticky goo.

Also it could just be a down year. Fertilizer, water etc. And also I am not a green thumb.

 

[emr454]

I had the same thing happen to me. I picked a bunch of hops that were drying on bines and didn't realize I was out of vacuum bags. To hold me over till the next day, I put them in gallon bags and sucked the air out with a straw. The next day when I got more bags, I opened them and they smelled like tea (smelled great the day before). I packed them anyway.

 

[Homercidal]

Judging by the browning tips I doubt i was picking too early. Plus the hops were sticky from resin. If anything, I may try to pick a little earlier next year just to avoid so much of the browning tips.