How do you store bulk hop pellets after breaking the seal

[week0019]

How long is it safe to assume they're good in the fridge in a zip lock bag? Is two weeks safe? I've had some in the fridge for a week that I want to use next weekend. They're already stinking up the fridge which got me wondering. Id be happy spending a few bucks for new hops if there's any chance these would be bad already and ruin a batch.

 

[Alcoholica]

I wouldn't throw them away, I'd just throw them in the boiling wort.

LOL, I'm really starting to feel better about my 2.5 gallon batch after some of these comments about "store the hops in my beer"and throwing an extra 0.75 oz in rather than throwing it away,lol

Now I'm starting to believe I didn't over do it with my hops on my 3.3 lb Amber LME , 2.5 gallon batch with a bunch of hops ,
.33 oz. for 60mins Centennials , .75oz for 20mins cascade and .75 oz for 5 minutes cascade.. I thought that may have ended up being a bitter and ugly mistake. This is like getting 2 questions answered in one thread,thanks:cross:

 

[Alcoholica]

How long is it safe to assume they're good in the fridge in a zip lock bag? Is two weeks safe? I've had some in the fridge for a week that I want to use next weekend. They're already stinking up the fridge which got me wondering. Id be happy spending a few bucks for new hops if there's any chance these would be bad already and ruin a batch.

Does it smell like bad cheese? I heard they use those hops in some Belgium beers over there for bittering.
Somebody already mentioned up to a year in the freezer referring to my fresh 2013 pellets.. But I'm just learning.. Maybe because it was in the fridge instead of the freezer.Just going by the info someone left previously about temperature being the determining factor of the hops retaining the alpha acids ..Which I googled and found to be conclusive

 

[carton132]

Heh, well it's all subjective of course but my wife and I tend towards hoppier IPAs and Imperial stouts so we never shy away from more hops. I'm enjoying the fact that I can pump a ludicrous amount of ingredients into small batches without worrying about margins like the pros have to.

 

[carton132]

Oh, and I'm doing 2.5 and 3 gallon batches as well. Not many people to share with so bigger batches would just be asking for trouble.

 

[Alcoholica]

Oh, and I'm doing 2.5 and 3 gallon batches as well. Not many people to share with so bigger batches would just be asking for trouble.

Nahhh, Trouble only comes when there is no beer,lol
I just like a variety, Plus I found a great deal on 3 used Mr. Beer kits.. Got 3 of them brewing now. And fixing to do the 4th one,Thats the one my wife bought me...Heck I just started brewing. Haven't even drunk my second batch yet. Probably like 4.0% abv . though , so no trouble there...
And with My luck I'll ruin a 5 or 6 gallon batch. I have the carboy waiting for a good extract brew though, I just have to find it and nail it in the 2.5 gallon version first.

 

[Ramitt]

Holy moly! So many people here worrying about vaccum sealing, mylar bags, and CO2/nitrogen purging.

You want the low down? Here's why all of that is essentially pointless.

Temperature is far and away the most important factor in the breakdown of alpha acids.

Some food for thought:

Willamette, 5.4% AA, 40.0% HSI. Aged 12 months.

@ 70F, ziplock bag - 3.15% AA (lost 41.6%)
@ 70F, glass jar - 3.61% AA (lost 33.1%)
@ 70F, vacuumed mylar bag - 4.13% AA (lost 23.5%)

@ -20F, ziplock bag - 5.12% AA (lost 5.2%)
@ -20F, glass jar - 5.19% AA (lost 3.8%)
@ -20F, vacuumed mylar bag - 5.26% AA (lost 2.6%)

In the above example, temperature plays a role 9x larger than the permeability of the container. This 9x factor varies based on the HSI of the hops, but the point remains the same. At -20F in a ziplock bag, the above hops won't lose 50% of their AA until they hit 78 months old. In a vacuumed mylar bag, until 85 months old. Of course, if you're storing hops that long, you have an inventory management problem.

Because of the negligible difference permeability of the container makes, I typically recommend freezing in a mason jar. One quart mason jar holds 17-19 oz of hops, depending on pellet size.

If you're feeling really paranoid, feel free to use a jar attachment on a vacuum sealer (more expensive) or the brake pump method (cheaper).

Dude come on, we over think and over engineer everything. All the toys are half the fun. Great point though. I don't doubt your data, but what is the source for future reference.

 

[thadius856]

Dude come on, we over think and over engineer everything. All the toys are half the fun. Great point though. I don't doubt your data, but what is the source for future reference.

BeerSmith2 Hop Age Tool

 

[CA_Mouse]

What do you do when a recipe leaves you with .25oz or .5oz of hops? Just throw them away? Thats why i prefer the jars, because hops from the shops here come in 2oz bags, and when im making like say a Hefe or something i use maybe .5oz...wasting a dollar or more on a freezer bag for hops that are worth 50 cents seems wasteful, and throwing them out just seems dumb when their perfectly good hops.

No one even suggested throwing hops away. I haven't done a single recipe that leaves behind .25 oz or .5 oz of hops. In a case where a recipe would call for .5oz of a bittering hop (again, I have never had one that did), I would just do a double batch. I, also, don't use freezer bags. I use sealable mylar bags that I can control the size of. If I only needed .5 oz of hops for an entire batch I would just seal them in a small pouch. The mylar bags cost me $5 for enough bags to seal up 3 lbs of hops. a single mylar bag can be broken down to hold 6 to 8 brew sized hop pouches.

They do take up more space I agree, but at least for me my 5-6ish pint sized jars fit in the shelf in the door of the freezer to keep them out of the way.

Jars work for you, that is fine. Try having 10, 12 or more varieties of hops. I can put 8 lbs in mylar bags into a single ice bin, leaving room for jugs of water for a swamp cooler and ice cream. Currently my freezer has 16 varieties of hops and 4 gallons of frozen water.

I dont think opening the jar and "flooding" it with oxygen is ruining the hops, its all about contact time, and in that respect they are no different than opening a bag and then resealing it in a new vacuum sealed bag.

Again, I never stated that I open and reseal my mylar bags. Once I package my hops they are already setup for the beers I'm going to brew and only get opened on brew day.

The following is a quote from Brad Smith on Hop Storage...

"Oxygen is also an enemy of hops because hop oils and alpha acids will oxidize. Oxidized alpha acids lose their bitterness, and old hops will take on a “cheesy” aroma. A plastic/poly bag is the worst storage vessel for your hops because plastic bags are still permeable to air. You can smell the hops right through a typical plastic bag, which is an indicator that it is not much of an oxygen barrier.

An oxygen barrier bag or an airtight jar make a much better container, though these still typically contain some air. The best container is a vacuum sealed oxygen barrier such as a vacuum packed foil pouch, typically made from a layer of food grade plastic and layer of mylar."

This was not about doing anything right or wrong, the OP asked for suggestions and that was what I provided to him. Each and every one of us does things differently based on how we were taught, the amount of space available to us and our brewing style. Most people have a food sealer already, why buy a bunch of jars if you already have the means to vacuum seal pouches?

 

[thadius856]

No one even suggested throwing hops away. I haven't done a single recipe that leaves behind .25 oz or .5 oz of hops. In a case where a recipe would call for .5oz of a bittering hop (again, I have never had one that did), I would just do a double batch. I, also, don't use freezer bags. I use sealable mylar bags that I can control the size of. If I only needed .5 oz of hops for an entire batch I would just seal them in a small pouch. The mylar bags cost me $5 for enough bags to seal up 3 lbs of hops. a single mylar bag can be broken down to hold 6 to 8 brew sized hop pouches.

You're not adjusting your recipes for the AA value of your hops?

If you were, you'd know that recipes NEVER come out with even ounces, halves, or quarters.

Jars work for you, that is fine. Try having 10, 12 or more varieties of hops. I can put 8 lbs in mylar bags into a single ice bin, leaving room for jugs of water for a swamp cooler and ice cream. Currently my freezer has 16 varieties of hops and 4 gallons of frozen water.

Mylar bags work for you, that is fine. Try having 24 varieties of hops. I have all 22# on the floor of a single freezer, leaving room for 50 vials of farmed yeast, with 80# of meat and potatoes on top in easy lift-out bins.

Not that it matters, but why do you have 4 gallons of frozen water?

Again, I never stated that I open and reseal my mylar bags. Once I package my hops they are already setup for the beers I'm going to brew and only get opened on brew day.

Hats off to you. I plan most of my brews the week, or even morning, of brew day.

The following is a quote from Brad Smith on Hop Storage...

"Oxygen is also an enemy of hops because hop oils and alpha acids will oxidize. Oxidized alpha acids lose their bitterness, and old hops will take on a “cheesy” aroma. A plastic/poly bag is the worst storage vessel for your hops because plastic bags are still permeable to air. You can smell the hops right through a typical plastic bag, which is an indicator that it is not much of an oxygen barrier.

An oxygen barrier bag or an airtight jar make a much better container, though these still typically contain some air. The best container is a vacuum sealed oxygen barrier such as a vacuum packed foil pouch, typically made from a layer of food grade plastic and layer of mylar."

No way. Brad Smith? PhD? The guy who wrote BeerSmith, where I pulled the numbers above from? *GASP*

Edit: You do realize they make mason jar vacuum sealer attachments, right?

 

[CA_Mouse]

How long is it safe to assume they're good in the fridge in a zip lock bag? Is two weeks safe? I've had some in the fridge for a week that I want to use next weekend. They're already stinking up the fridge which got me wondering. Id be happy spending a few bucks for new hops if there's any chance these would be bad already and ruin a batch.

Are they stinking in a bad way? If you mean that the fridge just smells of grassy hops, they should be fine to use. Best thing though, is to put them in the freezer. Even if you just put them in a ziplock sandwich baggie and squeeze out as much air as you can, they should still last 6 months in the freezer.

 

[CA_Mouse]

You're not adjusting your recipes for the AA value of your hops?
If you were, you'd know that recipes NEVER come out with even ounces, halves, or quarters.

Why would you be adjusting your recipes if you are buying in bulk? You already know the AA% so just measure them out before brew day. As I said, I have my brews planned usually 6 months in advance.

Not that it matters, but why do you have 4 gallons of frozen water?

Obviously you've never lived in the desert and been subject to major power outages that can last 6 hours. Frozen water keeps the freezer cold saving the hops and provides a way to keep a fermenter from overheating.

You do realize they make mason jar vacuum sealer attachments, right?

Again, why buy more stuff that I don't need?

 

[thadius856]

Why would you be adjusting your recipes if you are buying in bulk? You already know the AA% so just measure them out before brew day. As I said, I have my brews planned usually 6 months in advance.

Because your hop AA will probably be a bit different than the AA of the guy who wrote the recipe!

Unless you're just brewing the same few recipes of your own over and over. And the hops you get year-after-year have the exact same AA.

Obviously you've never lived in the desert and been subject to major power outages that can last 6 hours. Frozen water keeps the freezer cold saving the hops and provides a way to keep a fermenter from overheating.

Got me there. Nope, sure haven't.

Power is dead reliable here, even when it clears 100ºF in the summers.

Again, why buy more stuff that I don't need?

YOU BOUGHT A MYLAR SEALER.

 

[CA_Mouse]

Because your hop AA will probably be a bit different than the AA of the guy who wrote the recipe!

Unless you're just brewing the same few recipes of your own over and over. And the hops you get year-after-year have the exact same AA.

I create all of my own recipes. I haven't brewed someone else's recipe in 16 months. So, in that sense, I control the recipes and if I need to make any adjustments, most can be done with the addition times, rather then adjust the quantities. I buy my hops from the same seller every year and we discuss the AA prior to my purchase. Last year's crop of CTZ was 17.5 and this year it is 17.2, So I will adjust before I package them up.

YOU BOUGHT A MYLAR SEALER.

Bought before I started brewing and use for packaging meats and cheeses. Since we dry our own meats, fruits and vegetables, we buy those in bulk as well. I've had sealing units for the last 28 years. I didn't buy a sealer just for storing hops.

 

[Alcoholica]

I learned a lot here,Looks like I found the right group of people to ask about my hop scheduling...Being that I have a truck load of Cascade hops and English ale yeast..

Any suggestions on hop scheduling for a mildly bitter yet interesting brew with these ingredients with the addition of some moss
I know,

Should I do ;60 min-.33 oz Cascade for bitter,.20 min- .33 oz Cascade for flavor,5 min-.33 oz Cascade for aroma ?

-OR Should I switch it around and do this-;

5 min-.33 oz Cascade for aroma,20 min-.33 oz Cascade for flavor,60 min-.33 oz Cascade for Bitter ?

So many options..I guess a noob with a bag of hops can be dangerous under minimum supervision and with a lot of beer.
Have a good night

 

[brewcephus]

well, looks like I need to get with the program and finally start putting my 14# of hops in mylar bags/mason jars...

I have a food sealer and the jar attachment. plan on breaking open a couple of those pounds this weekend for my first homemade recipe. I'll post up the recipe if it turns out good

 

[Alcoholica]

well, looks like I need to get with the program and finally start putting my 14# of hops in mylar bags/mason jars...

I have a food sealer and the jar attachment. plan on breaking open a couple of those pounds this weekend for my first homemade recipe. I'll post up the recipe if it turns out good

After reading these comments, And researching google the freezers temperatures are what saves the hops. A bag inside another bag in a freezer bag seems sufficient for a little home brewer like me.
Mylar seems to be the most effective, But not the main factor.. I can see why Mouse uses Mylar though, It makes sense for him to do so..But I don't think it will be that important for me..I can just use Ziploc freezer bags and avoid buying something I'll never really use. I can reuse those Ziploc bags forever with hops that has a bag around it already..

I'm already in the habit of reusing Freezer storage bags, But only if it's storing other bagged or packaged ingredients that stays sanitary. Various bags of coffee beans it works well. As long as it seals and protects it from the freezer and it's sanitary.
I've been using the same 1 gal freezer bag for my pint size freezer bags of berries that I get from Sams club forever ,and it's fine for that as well. I mainly use it to keep stuff consolidated,only the pint sized ones gets thrown out after the berries are gone.. organization and it's double protection

 

[Cider123]

Food saver machines are more expensive than necessary. I just bought the Rival sealer on Amazon for $33 and it works great. I now use it for hop pellets and for my porterhouse and strip steaks.

 

[brewcephus]

well, I already have a foodsaver with some bags, but I will still probably use my mason jars and my foodsaver attachment. Storage is not an issue for me as I have my 2 refrigerators w/ freezers and a deep freeze dedicated to my brew hobby

One of the refrigerators doubles as my ferm chamber, and the deep freeze is about to become a keezer in the next month or so, but other than that... I still have lots of room for hops, which is probably why I currently have 14#

 

[masonsjax]

Look at Pump-n-seal. It's cheap and lets you vacuum seal jars or ziplock bags.

 

[Clonefan94]

I keep mine in the original bags, because they have that nice mylar packaging. I just fold the empty part of the bag, back over the bag itself. Then I put it in one of the Foodsaver bags and vacuum seal whatever is left over. I buy a pound of each at a time though and I just find this easier than breaking things down into individual packaging.