Hop Preservation / Storage
When you grow hops you will need a way to store them to save those precious aromas and flavors until brew day. Another possibility is that you just purchased hops in bulk and want to split them into more manageable sizes.
If the hops are fresh, they will need to be properly dried prior to storage. A quick way to do this is with a food dehydrator, otherwise the hops can be laid out on a screen and allowed to airdry.
A vacuum sealed bag is the best preservation container, however freezer bags with the air pushed out can also work. Once the hops have been properly bagged, note the hop variety, date of packaging, and if desired, the weight. Store the bags in the coldest section of the freezer and be sure to use them within one year of packaging.
Properly packaging the hops in this way will stall oxidation and slow the degradation of alpha acids. When it comes time to use the hops they should still smell fresh. If they instead have the slightest whiff of cheese do not use them, unless you plan to use them in a traditional sour ale. 😉
