how long can I keep hops?

[homebrewertodd]

Hello. One quick question, I've had hops in the fridge for about two years. Are they still good to use? I have pellets and whole. Thanks for the info. Dont want to waste them if I don't have to.

 

[carton132]

Hi Todd, I'm not an expert on this but I know that how you've packaged them plays a big part. Are they in vacuum-sealed or nitrogen flushed bags, or could they possibly have been exposed to oxygen in, say, a ziplock bag? That might help the experts to answer the question.

 

[microbusbrewery]

Storage temps also play a role, so you'd want freezer over fridge, and deep freezer over frost-free freezer. If they've never been opened and stored in the freezer, that's the best case scenario. Worst case, you have some aged hops on hand for use in a sour

 

[unionrdr]

Fridged hops might be ok for a short time,but the freezer is def better for long term hop storage. Smell them & see. Old hops can make some funky off flavors.

 

[panthers365]

My understanding is that if you have removed all the O2, they can stay in a freezer for years. Jamil just talked about it on one of the most recent episodes of brew strong

 

[unionrdr]

I've had som NZ & English hops in the freezer over a year sealed up in original packets that still worked well.

 

[Jayhem]

I brewed a Citra Pale ale last week using Citra pellet hops from 2012 and they still smell great! They have been vacuum sealed and kept in the deep freezer at -5F.

I would just assume they loose about 10% AA content per year and adjust recipe based on that.

 

[homebrewertodd]

Ok, throwing the old hops away! Thanks guys, I was a l a little leary about using them, but wanted more input. This is my holday ale, and is expensive.

 

[unionrdr]

Fresh hops would be wise at this point. I understand how expensive a holiday beer can be with all the extra additions.