To buy hops in bulk or not...

[Rob2010SS]

I received a gift card to Yakima Valley Hops for my birthday that I'm anxious to use. I have a selection of various hops picked out and put in a cart, ready to buy (48 oz total). Then I stopped and started wondering, will I be able to use them fast enough.

Would it be a better idea to only buy the hops as I want to use them or is it OK to buy this many hops and store them in the freezer for 6 months to a year? They would be vacuum sealed in the freezer of course.

 

[Staticsouls]

Freezer in the airtight packaging it came in, and you will be fine

 

[Indian_villager]

It really depends on what you brew and your storage capability.

If you brew a heap of hoppy beers it is a no-brainer. You will save a heap of money real fast.

If you have a foodsaver or some other method of vacuum packing I have hops from 2 years ago that are still in great shape.

If neither of these apply to you, look into the smaller packs that come vacuum packed.

 

[Rob2010SS]

I plan to do a few NEIPA's with them. However, it'll take me some time to use them. I have a food saver that I can vacuum seal left overs and I won't open the new packages until I'm ready to use them and they'll stay in the freezer.

My concern was the degradation of the hops in a vacuum sealed bag in the freezer. Is that something I need to worry about?

 

[z-bob]

I bought 3 pounds of hops about 4 years ago from Hops Direct. I've used less than half of them (in part because I keep buying 4 ounce bags of new stuff I want to try from Farmhouse) I store them all in the deep freezer in their original bags which are then put in ziplock freezer bags. They all still smell fresh, and the 4 year old Nugget and Dr Rudi hops have lost very little bitterness. I get in trouble when I use a little extra to adjust for age; the beer turns out too bitter.

 

[Miraculix]

I just want to chant in with the freezer guys. I freeze all my hops, freezing is almost like a time stopping machine for them. Freeze them and keep them for years. No problem at all.

 

[ong]

I plan to do a few NEIPA's with them. However, it'll take me some time to use them. I have a food saver that I can vacuum seal left overs and I won't open the new packages until I'm ready to use them and they'll stay in the freezer.

My concern was the degradation of the hops in a vacuum sealed bag in the freezer. Is that something I need to worry about?

If you’re doing NEIPAs it’s a no-brainer; mine use around 16 oz per 5 gallon batch. And definitely storing vacuum sealed in the freezer is the best home storage method there is. I would just go ahead and pull the trigger. It’s so much cheaper it’s not even worth worrying about. I buy maybe 8-10 lbs of bulk hops a year, and still occasionally pick up 2-8 oz of something outside my usual range for a specific brew.

 

[Nemanach]

I vacuum seal hops and keep them in the deep freezer. As soon as I open the large bag I reseal into 1, 2 and 3 oz packages so I don’t have to keep exposing the hops as I use them. I also like to warm them up before repackaging so no oxygen rich condensation forms on them. I have 18 month old hops that are just like new as far as I can tell.

 

[IslandLizard]

Just a few notes.

The hops you're buying today are mostly 2017 hops (some older years are still around too). Most of the Aussie/NZ hops are their 2017 and recent 2018 crop (April/May).
Our 2018 crop will be harvested starting at the beginning of next month or a few weeks later.

At YVH they typically put the previous year hops on sale when the new crop comes out. So don't grossly overbuy now, there will be plenty of opportunity later. But if you're gonna use most of them in the next 2-3 months, go for it.

I'm echoing what @ong said, a NEIPA takes between a quarter and third of your 48 oz stash. 3 NEIPAS and you'll be in the market again.

 

[specharka]

I still have hops from 2013 and 2014 that are in perfect condition. Vacuum packaging and freezing reduces the alpha acid degradation to practically zero, and I’ve noticed no loss in aroma over that same time as well.

I can’t say the same thing about buying malt or yeast in bulk — malt stales within 6 - 12 months, and yeast quality degrades quickly unless you’re willing to feed it wort every so often. I now only buy yeast for upcoming brews and base malt by the sack, but I have no problem throwing down for some Hallertau, Saaz, Styrian Goldings or Citra when I start running low.

The only real caveat I would suggest is try the hop varietal before you buy a pound of it. I’ve got more Columbus, Cluster, Equinox and Warrior than I know what to do with.

 

[Murphys_Law]

I bought a $100 vacuum sealer to save $40 in hops. [emoji1]

 

[Yooper]

I recently used some pellet hops from 2007. They were properly frozen and stored, and they smelled great, so I used them.

So yes, a year or two is no worry at all!

 

[Rob2010SS]

That's awesome information everyone. Thanks! I already have the vacuum sealer and room in the freezer so that's not a concern at all. Just wanted to make sure they wouldn't spoil before use.

 

[IslandLizard]

I recently used some pellet hops from 2007. They were properly frozen and stored, and they smelled great, so I used them.

So yes, a year or two is no worry at all!

Wow, Yooper, hops from 2007! Are you're saving those for some "Historical Beers?"
Did you vacuum seal after use?

I store mine in the original bags in the chest freezer at around 0F. The oldest are from the 2012 harvest (HopsDirect).
The corner of the top flap was snipped off to dispense, then folded over a few times and taped shut to the body of the bag. As much air as possible was squeezed out while rolling down the flap. They feel firm. Then back into the freezer.
I sometimes flush the bags generously with CO2, to purge the air, before rolling and squeezing.

I haven't noticed any degradation either, no cheesy aromas whatsoever. I used to add 5% for each year of age, that was waaay too much. Maybe 1-3% per year is sufficient, if any?

 

[dstockwell]

I just bought 6lbs from Hops Direct and tossed them in the freezer in the original bag. Once I open and use some they will be put in foodsaver bags and back into the freezer.

 

[Yooper]

Wow, Yooper, hops from 2007! Are you're saving those for some "Historical Beers?"
Did you vacuum seal after use?

I store mine in the original bags in the chest freezer at around 0F. The oldest are from the 2012 harvest (HopsDirect).
The corner of the top flap was snipped off to dispense, then folded over a few times and taped shut to the body of the bag. As much air as possible was squeezed out while rolling down the flap. They feel firm. Then back into the freezer.
I sometimes flush the bags generously with CO2, to purge the air, before rolling and squeezing.

I haven't noticed any degradation either, no cheesy aromas whatsoever. I used to add 5% for each year of age, that was waaay too much. Maybe 1-3% per year is sufficient, if any?

Ha- I didn't intend to wait more than 10 years to use them. It just happened that way. I do have maybe 10 pounds of hops in the freezer, so some get overlooked (like the El Dorado and Galaxy that have been in there since before they were popular). They were hallertauer, so I used them in a German lager. I didn't even calculate any loss of AAUS- and really it was perfectly fine. The hops were sealed in a vacuum sealed package separated in 2007 from the original packaging and smelled wonderful when I used them.

 

[Rob2010SS]

You all talked me into it... 48oz of hops on their way!

 

[shoengine]

I went crazy at Homebrew con and came home with nearly 100oz of hops. Stupid money-saving dice tricked me into it. Gambling is bad!

 

[catdaddy66]

You all talked me into it... 48oz of hops on their way!

View attachment 581831

Getting ready to use a couple of ozs of the Golden hop (007), along with some Comet in a pale ale. I was told that 007 is an offshoot of Idaho 7, which pairs very well with Comet.

We shall see!

 

[FloppyKnockers]

Let's do some math to solidify how much you save.

My local brew place has 2 oz bags for $3.95.
hopsdirect.com has prices that vary from hop to hop and by season, but generally about $10/lb.

2 oz bags = $1.98/oz
1 lb bags = $0.63/oz

That means you could ultimately waste a half a pound and still pay less than you would buying 2 oz bags.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

I bought a $100 vacuum sealer to save $40 in hops. [emoji1]

Are you done brewing or will there be more savings in the future?

 

[Rob2010SS]

Getting ready to use a couple of ozs of the Golden hop (007), along with some Comet in a pale ale. I was told that 007 is an offshoot of Idaho 7, which pairs very well with Comet.

We shall see!

Yeah, I don't know if it's an offshoot or if it's Idaho 7 renamed. I thought I read it was just renamed. I've never used it but looking forward to it. I've heard a lot of good things about it.