Vacuum Packed Hops

[andyn2001]

Am I right in saying that hops should contain some oils? So, when you open a vacuum pack they shouldn't be bone dry?

I have just chucked two packs of Citra, I hope I didn't make a bad decision. They were just so dry.

Does it depend on the hop variety?

 

[GHW]

They will be dry. The oils are there, but only released when boiled. Sorry to say you made a bad decision!

 

[andyn2001]

Other packs I open there is moisture in the hops, that made me worry that these were not very fresh???

 

[GHW]

Generally they're hard packed down and seem dry, but swell up when boiled. I suspect the ones that were more moist were the exception. Did they smell ok?

 

[andyn2001]

That was the other thing, they had a light smell, not a strong smell, my apollo hops were wow, these were, oh, is that it!

 

[andyn2001]

I've been brewing for 3 years, and this is the first time I thought, these hops are not right....often they are moist and have a strong aroma, even when vacuum packed. I think I made the right decision, I just need to tell the shop I bought them from no, as they had a use by date of Jan 2016!

 

[Godfather50]

Most hops I've used are pretty dry. The smell you don't want when they get old is "cheesy". Think you may have binned in haste.😐

 

[GHW]

Ok, so If you've been brewing for that long then your instincts are probably right. I've only ever encountered pretty dry flaky looking hops though!