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Marlon Lang
Junior Member
Username: Marlon_lang
Post Number: 40
Registered: 12-2006
Posted From: 70.149.169.74
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 11:26 pm: | 
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Hello, boys and girls.
"Who's the leader of the gang that's made . . ."
Oops.
This month tip is a two-banger. First, IMHO, hops should be purchased in pound quantities. A pound of Cascade is about $7 and an ounce is $1 - you figure it.
Tip #1: A pound of pellet hops will exactly fill a quart Mason jar (NAYY). The Mason jar is air-tight and can easily be stored in your freezer.
Tip #2: A 1/2" dia, 2-3/4" long prescription bottle holds 1/2 oz of hops. (At least close enough for horse shoes, hand grenades, and homebrewing).
'Til next month, keep saving those box tops to get your secret decoder ring. |
tim roth
Advanced Member
Username: Hopdude
Post Number: 505
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 12.206.8.165
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 11:51 pm: |
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Hey, thanks Marlon.
I was thinkin' the quart jar thing might be a good idea. Glad to hear it's a proven method.
Any tips on storing leaf hops (other than vacuum sealers)?
I bought a pound of cascade whole hops from hopsdirect and I've used them HEAVILY but, I think I still have a pound leftover. :>) cheers,tim
You know I'm on the level because, my bubble is in the middle.
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Marlon Lang
Junior Member
Username: Marlon_lang
Post Number: 42
Registered: 12-2006
Posted From: 70.149.188.6
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 12:08 am: |
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Tim,
As a matter of fact, I can report that if you cut off the corner of the foil bag from Hops Direct, it can be resealed with seal-a-meal, et al. You have to run the SEAL several times, but you can. Fresh Hops uses a clear, plastic bag and I have not tried to re-seal one. And yes, whole hops take up a lot more space. I am fortunate enough to have a freezer (obtained, free) to store my hops in. YMMV |
michael atkins
Advanced Member
Username: Mga
Post Number: 532
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 65.103.164.231
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 12:43 am: |
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Marlon - Great Info! I have an inventory of pellets (bought from my LHBS) and leaf variety from(Hops Direct). I usually buy in quantity, so I am always in the position of having much more hops left over at the end of the brewing season than I ever could possibly use.
Some are from 3-5 years old?
So do you throw them out! Yes I know it's Heresy, but give me your best shot!
Love This Hobby!
http://msnusers.com/micksbrewery
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Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 6664
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.224.220
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 12:52 am: |
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Gee, Buffalo Bob, I thought you were going to ask what time it is. 
Seriously, good tips about hops. |
michael atkins
Advanced Member
Username: Mga
Post Number: 533
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 65.103.164.231
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 01:05 am: |
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Ok Bill - A real "Howdy Doody" moment.
But seriously - Getting back to my thread Hijack.  How long do you keep your hops?
Love This Hobby!
http://msnusers.com/micksbrewery
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tim roth
Advanced Member
Username: Hopdude
Post Number: 506
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 12.206.8.165
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 01:13 am: |
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Thanks again Marlon, I'll give it a shot. cheers,tim
You know I'm on the level because, my bubble is in the middle.
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Marlon Lang
Junior Member
Username: Marlon_lang
Post Number: 43
Registered: 12-2006
Posted From: 70.149.188.6
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 01:18 am: |
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Michael:
I brew often enough that I am never faced with "old" hops (not braggin' just fact!). But, here are some posibilities for using older stock:
Mash hop: Pellets/whole hops in the grain, Requires 1/3 more (1.5x) (Denny?)
Mash hop: Whole flowers under the false bottom, if possible.
First Wort hop: Some debate on this, but many feel that 1.1x is required. (Denny ?)
Late hop additions: One ounce at 25, 20, 15, 10 ,5, KO, and dry. |
Bob Boufford
Intermediate Member
Username: Bobb
Post Number: 368
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 68.149.174.16
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 01:50 am: |
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Marlon,
Add to your list: Use the really old hops for lambics. |
Jim O'Conner
Advanced Member
Username: Roguejim
Post Number: 856
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 204.16.45.114
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 06:40 am: |
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Nice idea on the mason jar except you can't remove the O2 from the jar, at least I don't think you can...
Allow me to speak out of turn for Denny again (he loves this) and say that mash hopping is largely overrated, if not a complete waste. Very little return on your investment.
Jim
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Mike A.
Intermediate Member
Username: Mike_a
Post Number: 279
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 128.173.15.155
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 03:15 pm: |
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I was thinking the same thing Jim, if you buy in oz increments they remain sealed and oxygen free until use.
Can you easily purge a mason jar with CO2 or N2? |
Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 2675
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 208.49.148.10
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 04:45 pm: |
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My Foodsaver has an attachment for Mason jars but I've never tried to use it. |
Steve Funk
Intermediate Member
Username: Tundra45
Post Number: 302
Registered: 06-2004
Posted From: 209.216.184.154
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 05:26 pm: |
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I also like to use quart & pint mason jars for hop pellets. An easy method to remove much of the O2 is to purge with CO2 at a slow rate for about 30 seconds. Just hook a CO2 line to a stiff hollow plastic tube like a ball point pen barrel and shove it to the bottom and purge away. I'm not sure of how much difference it makes but it makes me feel better. Loose hop flowers continue to be a problem as I haven't had a lot of luck resealing the foil bags. Even Food Saver bags don't reseal real well once they get coated with lupulin "dust". Hijack: Has anyone considered making their own plugs from loose hops to reduce storage volume? |
Hophead
Senior Member
Username: Hophead
Post Number: 2466
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 167.4.1.41
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 05:51 pm: |
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whole leaf vacuum seals very well, though you end up with odd shapes to store. I've got hops upto 2.5 years old, which are fine when vac sealed and in freezer. 5 years might be pushing the limits...
If they're green and smell good, use 'em! |
Pacman
Advanced Member
Username: Pacman
Post Number: 825
Registered: 04-2003
Posted From: 12.32.159.2
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 05:54 pm: |
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The Foodsaver attachment works beautifully... I have some pellet hops stored like this in the freezer... I don't know if 100% of the air is pulled out or not but when you pry the lid off you get the 'pssssssst' sound of air rushing back in... The lid is pretty hard to pull off too so it provides a pretty good vacuum.....
Damn Brewing's Fun!!!! Kölsch Krusader!
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Geoff Buschur
Senior Member
Username: Avmech
Post Number: 1451
Registered: 06-2004
Posted From: 208.8.57.2
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 05:54 pm: |
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I'm in the Foodsaver whole hops camp.
"I've been drunk for 14 years...my judgment isn't what it used to be."
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Jeff Preston
Member
Username: Jeffpreston
Post Number: 245
Registered: 02-2004
Posted From: 142.161.184.6
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 10:33 pm: |
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I'm with Hophead. If they smell good use them. I vac-seal my whole hops and keep them in the freezer. Good for two years or more in my opinion. |
Brews and Views Archive 2007 
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