Very Old Hops!

[klaus]

Had an early spring clear out of brewing bits and pieces - came across a vacuum sealed 100g bag of Northern Brewer, 2011 harvest, never opened, stored in a cool room! Been looking at previous threads on using old hops but nothing really on 9 year old hops. Hops are relatively cheap so why bother taking the risk? Maybe use for a bit of dry hopping?

 

[Slid]

I probably made some extract beers circa 1980 with worse hops than these!

If it smells off when you open them, chuck it out. Personally, I would be curious...

 

[jceg316]

If it smells horribly cheesy then chuck, otherwise are still usable.

 

[An Ankoù]

I brewed up a SMASH with Centennial hops with a 2009 use by date. They hadn't been well stored by any means, but the vacuum pack was intact and the vacuum still good. Rather than being dry and dusty, they were almost oily when I opened the back. Brewed up 12 litres and it was surprisingly good. And I'd actually overbittered the beer because I thought the bittering properties would have been greatly dimiinished. Still got some of the beer, It doesn't taste like Centennial, but it doesn't taste bad, either. Quite dank, in fact. I posted this somewhere, but can't find the thread, now.

 

[klaus]

Thanks for all your comments - I hate to chuck out things just because it's out of date.
In the meantime found another small bag, this time Cluster pellets, 2014 harvest. This was opened but sealed back very tightly with tape. If they smell right might be using some of those for dry hopping the Admiral Reserve brew which I started a couple of days ago.

 

[MrRook]

If it smells horribly cheesy then chuck, otherwise are still usable.

Or use them in a lambic.

 

[jceg316]

Or use them in a lambic.

Yes! A good idea if you "know" how to make a lambic. I've seen a homebrew shop sell aged hops, I'm sure I can find some aged hops at the bottom of my freezer.

 

[MrRook]

Yes! A good idea if you "know" how to make a lambic. I've seen a homebrew shop sell aged hops, I'm sure I can find some aged hops at the bottom of my freezer.

It's not hard to make lambic. To make good lambic involves 2 or 3 (or more) batches over 2 or 3 years (or more) and blending: far too much hassle for me.

 

[dwhite60]

They're probably fine.

I'd use them for bittering, where you're expecting to get less flavor and aroma out of them.

If they've gone off any it's REALLY going to show in dry hopping.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[jceg316]

It's not hard to make lambic. To make good lambic involves 2 or 3 (or more) batches over 2 or 3 years (or more) and blending: far too much hassle for me.

Yeah, just a bit of a faff. Also when doing sour it does help to have a separate cold side setup for anything which contains sour bacteria/yeast. Either that or have a fermeter tied up for a year and then bleach it afterwards (which I'm not so keen on anyway). I love sour beers and lambics but never made on (on purpose anyway!).

I'd use them for bittering, where you're expecting to get less flavor and aroma out of them.

I'd second this. The AA% won't be as high but just use more.

 

[The Baron]

Literally this morning I have made Yorkshire bitter and used 2015 Target Leaf hops for bittering. They were foil packed and when I opened them they smelled just as they should. I am not saying they are as good as fresher hops but stored correctly I believe that too much emphasis is put on this that they are no good. As with Best Before dates on food if it looks OK smells Ok it is probably Ok