hiphops
Well-Known Member
I have a bunch of old hops that I've kept in the freezer in a ziplock. By old, I mean up to 6 - 9 months.
Are these usable for dry hopping or are they too old?
Are these usable for dry hopping or are they too old?
If there 6-9 months old, they are exactly the same age as any (Northern hemisphere) hops you'd buy anywhere. All 2010 hops were harvested last August-October -- there are no newer hops anywhere.
?
I agree 100% with Hammy. I have gotten very choosy with my hops. I believe the first thing to fade is it's aroma. Dry hopping is about aroma, so the freshest hop you have for this is ideal IMO.
Bittering is not so much an issue.
The OP said the hops are simply in a ziploc bag in the freezer. Dry hopping is about extracting the oils from the hops both for flavor and smell. Therefore logic would dictate that fresher is better. The hops will have to be adjusted for using in the boil because of age, but for dry hopping older doesn't mean better. I think Zymurgy has a nice article on dry hopping in the latest issue.
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