Old Hops

[FSBrewer]

I bought some simcoe hop pellets from a local homebrew supply store probably close to 2 years ago. They are in little zip-lock bags, not vacuum sealed. I am planning to brew an IPA tomorrow and no longer living in a place with a homebrew supply store, nor is quick mail order an option here. I opened one of the bags and they smell weird, almost fermented, but I haven't brewed in a long time and maybe they are fine. Can I still use them? What's the worst that could happen?

I was planning to brew an IPA. I also have a few random other hops, definitely all older than the above. Should I maybe throw in some of these for good measure? Here's what I have:

- 10 HBU Hope Pellet Pack (vacuum sealed)
- Fuggle (vac sealed)
- Flaconer's Flight (sealed, but not vac sealed)
- Galena (sealed, but not vac sealed)

 

[DBhomebrew]

they smell weird

Your beer will be a sum of its ingredients.

 

[hotbeer]

If that weird smell wasn't what you remember when you opened them, then toss them. Or don't expect the same beer tastes and aroma.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

If you don’t believe they’re past their prime or actually degraded take on pellet and make “tea” with it in a small amount of water. Taste it and smell it then decide if that’s the flavor and aroma you want for your beer.

 

[McMullan]

Hops always smell nice to me. Even those I've had stashed away in the freezer for years and not always sealed.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Hops always smell nice to me. Even those I've had stashed away in the freezer for years and not always sealed.

Yes, I agree, they may loose some potency, but they still smell as they should kept in the freezer and are still very usable.

 

[AmarikinBrew]

I used some old cheesy dry yellowish German leaf Tettnanger in a pils once. Best dang aroma and taste I haven't been able to recreate since! But then again, I like Kimchi too...

 

[marc1]

I bought some simcoe hop pellets from a local homebrew supply store probably close to 2 years ago. They are in little zip-lock bags, not vacuum sealed. I am planning to brew an IPA tomorrow and no longer living in a place with a homebrew supply store, nor is quick mail order an option here. I opened one of the bags and they smell weird, almost fermented, but I haven't brewed in a long time and maybe they are fine. Can I still use them? What's the worst that could happen?

I was planning to brew an IPA. I also have a few random other hops, definitely all older than the above. Should I maybe throw in some of these for good measure? Here's what I have:

- 10 HBU Hope Pellet Pack (vacuum sealed)
- Fuggle (vac sealed)
- Flaconer's Flight (sealed, but not vac sealed)
- Galena (sealed, but not vac sealed)

Were they stored in a freezer?

If hops smelled bad I would not use them.

The worst that would happen is they make the beer taste terrible.

 

[FSBrewer]

Were they stored in a freezer?

If hops smelled bad I would not use them.

The worst that would happen is they make the beer taste terrible.

They were in a loose, questionable zip lock bag, not vacuum sealed or in the freezer. Fortunately, I found a local source for hops and had them delivered in less than two hours! The place only sells malt grain and not extract, so I may finally have to make the jump to all grain brewing...