hops

[danb]

I have just been to pick up some grain and hops for the next few brews. I will be brewing tomorrow and sunday, the hops left from ag1 were sealed back up and put in the freezer. the new hops are still sealed should I put them in the freezer now or leave until after I have opened them up? when brewing and using a pack that's in the freezer how long before should they be took out to get to room temp or can they come out when needed and put in straight from the freezer? thanks

 

[RobWalker]

if they're vac packed, they're fine for a while, few months at least. opened, you need to freeze 'em. they are dried, so you shouldn't have to defrost them, although you might wanna pull them out 30 mins before adding them (you should do this when setting up your brewday anyway) just in case you use a lot and it drops your boil temp. if they're bagged and loose, put them in the freezer.

 

[danb]

that's great thanks wasn't sure if they needed taking out the before or not

 

[dennisking]

I was given some free bags of goldings vac packed but a year past sell by date by my local shop. They were fine.

 

[BeerBloke]

Vacuum packed hops last very well without the need to a freezer. Once they're opened try to re-seal them as tight as possible and pop them in the fridge or freezer. Yes I did say fridge! I asked a commercial hop grower a number of years what was the ideal temperature for storing hops and he said fridge temp. I questioned why not a freezer and his response was that there was chuff all difference other than a bigger energy bill.
Here's my hop collection.......

 

[RobWalker]

hahah, i'm dubious as to how bad hops really get when opened after a few months anyway, i've stored them in a cool dark place with an elastic band around the foil, and they've still smelled pretty fresh, although the aroma from the nelson sauvin was noticably diminished after a couple of months. god knows as long as they're not going brown and smell good they're probably fine!