Hop drying question.

[Goose5]

I have been harvesting Cascades for the last couple of weeks. Setting them out on a screen to dry in a hot shed for a couple of days and then into a lawn and leaf bag. I picked up the bag today and noticed everything in the bag is moist again. Here is a photo.



Can I dry this out again and still use it or is this ruined?

 

[day_trippr]

How long were the cones in the bag before you discovered you hadn't dried them near enough?

If it was only a few days - and you're not seeing any white fuzzy mold - they'll likely be fine if you dry them thoroughly. After that your best bet is to vac-bag and freeze them...

Cheers!

 

[B-Hoppy]

If they haven't molded, you might be able to. A lot of times, folks feel the cones after they've been drying for a while and they feel nice and crunchy so they think they're done. Most of the moisture in the cone is contained in the strig (the stem that all the petals are attached to) and if you don't get most all of the moisture out of that, it will continue to release the moisture back into the petals after you think they're dried. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Goose5]

They were in there maybe 6 or 7 days. I have been picking little by little for the last few days. And, I have new smaller cones starting. I was going to try to start new rhizomes next spring, but I can't keep up with them now.

 

[GVH_Dan]

Like Bob said, they probably weren't dry. When you put them in the bag, it gave them time to equalize the moisture. Next time, leave them on the screen for at least a week and then either freeze them immediately or leave them in a breathable bag and check on them every day.

As far as the current batch, start with your nose. If the smell has drastically changed, throw them out. Even better, get your SWMBO to check. My wife is much more sensitive. If they pass that test, make a little tea out of them and see if it tastes odd.

 

[kilohertz]

A lot of times, folks feel the cones after they've been drying for a while and they feel nice and crunchy so they think they're done. Most of the moisture in the cone is contained in the strig (the stem that all the petals are attached to) and if you don't get most all of the moisture out of that, it will continue to release the moisture back into the petals after you think they're dried.

Oh man...I can't believe I haven't heard about this before. Thanks Bob!! ..it explains a lot about my last years harvest and some of the issues I had in the freezer and when brewing....they weren't completely dry but they sure felt like it.

Thanks again....you probably saved me from the same mistakes this year.

Cheers

 

[kilohertz]

So I picked a few of the smaller Centennial plants, enough for one layer on a 2x3' screen drier, I have 6 I made for last years harvest but I have built 4x5 footers for this year.

Anyway, picked them a week ago today and have been monitoring them daily and giving them a little fluffing. They are in my house, on my bread rising station above the wood stove which is a shelf 1' below the ceiling and always a little warmer, and with the ceiling fan moving slowly. Stove is not on, room temps around 22-24C with RH around 30-45% depending on the day. Took about 2 days for them to start feeling dry, very papery feeling after 4 days but the stig still flexible...missed checking for the last 2 days but today I gave 'em a fondle and now the stig is dry, and I can break it with one hand between fingers.

Now I know they are ready to bag and freeze, but I wonder if there is a point where they are too dry? Should they be bagged, just as the stig can break, or are they still fine if that point is missed by a day or two?

Thanks boys,

cheers

 

[B-Hoppy]

They're probably too dry for a commercial grower but for homebrewing, it's all good. Bag & freeze then use as needed!

 

[The_Glue]

So now come we can let them dry for days and weeks but if we open a bag of hops they get oxidized. Wouldn't we lost a lot of hop aroma during drying?

 

[B-Hoppy]

Oxidation is pretty much an ongoing process. The whole idea behind harvesting and processing for long term storage is to get it done as quickly as possible while doing the least amount of damage to the 'goods' you're trying to preserve. Everyone may see this part of the process a little bit differently depending on what they are attempting to accomplish and may have slightly different approaches as to how they get it done.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jib.40/full