Lawrence Brewers Guild

Our fourth batch of all-grain is set for the weekend. This time it's a double IPA. So it goes without saying that I will be going using significantly more hops than any other batch (or three combined) than previous efforts.

Once we did the rough tally, we decided it would be wise to finalize our brew calendar for the rest of 2010 and put together our total hops list to see if would make sense to order several types of hops in bulk form rather than in single ounce packages.

UPS just dropped off my order. I now have four 1# vacuum-sealed packages of four different hop pellets.
(Cascade, Columbus, Czech Saaz and US Fuggle)

One-third+ of my Columbus is going into my IPA this weekend. The remaining packages are for future batches, so I'm not concerned about them yet. But what is the best way to store hops once the vac packs have been opened?

My general practice is to fold over the opened edge, tape it closed, and put it in a zip-lock bag in the crisper drawer of my fridge. But that's with 1 oz packages. Should I be doing more?

Once I actually have a crop of home-grown hops (fingers crossed it will be this fall) I plan to buy some sort of a seal-a-meal machine. But I'm not certain that I can get bags small enough to make sense for these pellets.

Thoughts?

I would never leave hops in the refrigerator. Vacuum sealer is the only way to go. Remove all the air and freeze them ASAP. I keep my hops vacuum sealed in a - 2° freezer. Hops degrade regardless of how you store them, but the less air and the colder it is, the longer they will last.

As far as bag sizes, you can make custom size bags simply by cutting it into whatever size you want, seal all the sides and vacuum the last one. Or, just make a 'short' bag.

Vacuum sealers are nice but not necessary. If you are careful to rotate them and keep them cold in freezer bags, your hops will have negligible AA loss. YMMV

Sounds like the freezer is definitely the place to be then!

I'm trying to spread out my brewing equipment investment, and I'd already slated this month as "yeast ranching equipment" month. So rather than go the Seal-A-Meal route (still planned for the fall), I opted to try out the new Ziplock vacuum freezer bags. The bags come in quart and gallon sizes. I'm sure their hand pump isn't as effective as the Seal-A-Meal, but it may allow me to open the sealed bag, remove an ounce of hops at a time, and re-seal it without destroying the bag.

Turns out it was lucky that I was already planning to try my hand at yeast ranching. The LBS was out of my yeast strain, but I am bottling two batches this weekend (one will happen tonight) that both use the yeast I need for my double IPA. Sounds like I'll have to postpone brew day until Sunday to give the yeast time to grow, but otherwise should work out fine. I hope so, anyway.

Primary 1: Rainmaker IPA
Primary 2: Amazing Daze American Wheat
On Tap: Blueberry Ale, and Blood Orange Hefeweizen
Heading to the Brew Pot: Double IPA

If the bags are the mylar metallic looking type you can reseal them with an iron.

I purchased the Ziplock vacuum pump bags and was highly disappointed. They are no better than the standard freezer zip locks without a vacuum. However, as Lee stated, if you freeze them and keep tabs on their age, you'll only have minor alpha loss, but you will have some loss.

Good to know!

brick wrote:If the bags are the mylar metallic looking type you can reseal them with an iron.

Nice tip!

Sam's and Costco carry a very nice vacuum sealer for about $90 (w/ bags and 3 canisters). Also check on Craig s List, sometime they pop up.

Agree with everyone, freezing is the most important and tracking the age. vacuum sealing is nice and you can bag them up in any weight you want.

Jason