I finally came to terms with the fact that I have a problem last night. I opened my most recent AHS order last night and found 6 ounces of Calypso that I totally forgot I ordered. I currently have at least 14 hop varieties in my freezer that I have 3 oz or more of, a few more straggler open packs, and 3 more varieties being delivered from NB as we speak.
I haven’t even been brewing for a year yet, so I never really experienced any of the big hops shortages, but I’ve heard a lot of the old war stories. Whenever I see a new hop variety that sounds interesting I end up ordering half a pound in case I really like it and it’s not there next time I want it. I’ve spent the past month or two chasing down whatever AUS/NZ hops I could get my hands on just because I may want to use them in my IIPA in a couple of months and I’m afraid they might be sold out everywhere by then. I just got an email from Rebel Brewer the other day saying that they had Topaz in stock and I felt like a drug dealer was waving crack in my face. I know the next time I place an order with Rebel there will be several ounces of Topaz tacked on.
A couple of weeks ago I bought 8oz of a new experimental hop variety (Caliente) just because it was a new experimental hop variety. I opened it up to repackage it and took a whiff. It didn’t really smell like much of anything, and I got that feeling like I dropped 20 bucks on a lottery ticket and lost - kinda bummed, but instantly thought “maybe next time”.
Thankfully hops are (relatively) cheap, and wanting to experiment with hops is what got me into homebrewing in the first place. Still, I’m accruing hops way faster than I could possibly brew with them. Anyone else have this problem, or should I check myself into Humulus rehab?
I bought a pound of Willamette a year or so ago. I think I’ve still got more than half left. I don’t really remember why I bought them. Hopsdirect can be dangerous.
I won’t admit I have a problem yet, but my garage beer fridge/freezer can’t hold any more hops. There’s currently a conflict brewing between food and hops in the house freezer. And fall harvest isn’t too far away.
I’m up to four freezers. 2 for food and 2 for beer. Hops have already moved to the food freezer …WTHeck…beer is food…why should there even be a conflict. I think I just solved another problem
So if you keep them sealed do they stay good indefinitely? Do you portion them out and seal them in increments, or just reseal the bag after you use them?
A couple years ago I split some bulk hops into smaller bags (2 - 3 oz) and that also worked well. A lot more work, though, and I’m not sure there is a huge benefit to it.
I just made an IPA with Cascade hops that I grew two or three years ago and they were still good and the beer came out great. I vacuum sealed them and stored them in the freezer.
4-5 years! WOW! :o
I store mine in canning jars blanketed with C02. Although I do have a few ounces that my be almost 2 years old set out in my basement to age…
If I get them in vacuum-sealed 1-ounce bags (like from one of the online homebrew shops), then I’ll generally leave them as-is. If I get some in bulk (Freshops, Hops Direct, Yakima Valley, etc.), then once I crack the package I’ll put them in a Food Saver bag. I use the rolls and cut the bag to length with a few inches of extra headspace. This way as I need to crack the bag open I have plenty of room to re-seal it.
And yes, I bought a FoodSaver just for my hops. I told the wife it was for the garden veggies, but I have pounds of hops in my freezer and just a few handfuls of fruit & berries…
The LHBS gave me 1lb of outdated Magnum whole hops. They are still in their 2oz aluminum baggies, are now 5 years old, and are still very pungent when opened. Someone at HopUnion told me pellets will keep a couple of years in the freezer, leaf hops…about a year. Frankly, I think they keep well much longer if vacuum sealed in the freezer.
