Old vac-pack

[Moley]

Along with the herd of Cornelii I acquired recently were some assorted ingredients, chemicals and additives, most of which went straight in the bin.

However, I have an unopened vacuum packed block of Young's Goldings, 2004 harvest (alpha 5.0%), produce of the UK, best before Jan 2008.

The pack hasn't been punctured at all and is still rock hard.

Would you still use them?

 

[Aleman]

Not for aroma, but yes I would still use them for bittering . . . probably at double the rate called for in any recipe

 

[Moley]

Thanks Tony, I was looking at Bateman's Victory (Wheeler, 3rd edition, p.117) and thinking about Goldings + Bobek (90) with Aurora (15) - sound ok to you?

 

[Aleman]

Sounds fine to me . . . with that super styrian addition at the last 15 anything from the goldings will be lost/masked.

 

[hairybiker]

I had a similar block of hops (Gold pack solid as a brick) and though the same, use 2x for bittering.



...







I had to leave it for about 3 months to allow the hops to "quieten" down enough to drink :

 

[Moley]

I had a similar block of hops (Gold pack solid as a brick)

That's the one.

I nearly missed your footnote, perhaps I'll just go x1.5

 

[hairybiker]

Its a bit like the old Best Before stickers on Tins and vac packs. They are good for 40+ years but have a BBE of about 2! :whistle:

I tend to ignore BBE now and just go with my nose. If it smells OK then it is OK. (same for hops)

 

[dennisking]

My local HB shop gave me 4 out of date packs last year. They were about about 6 months out of date but he could not sell them, fear of the trading standards gestapo. By the time I got to use the liberty the were about a year out of date and were absolutely fine.

 

[evanvine]

I had to leave it for about 3 months to allow the hops to "quieten" down enough to drink

I think along similar lines and would have used the hops at the normal rate.
I don't even freeze mine (my section of the freezer is taken up with my yeast cultures)!

 

[mr_spin]

I had a similar block of hops (Gold pack solid as a brick) and though the same, use 2x for bittering.



...







I had to leave it for about 3 months to allow the hops to "quieten" down enough to drink :

that just made me laugh :) lol.. :

 

[phettebs]

Use them in a lambic. They actually call for well-aged hops!