Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: old hops  (Read 1758 times)

Offline Iliff Ave

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4507
old hops
« on: February 12, 2016, 07:51:59 am »
I am curious what the effect of really old hops on a finished beer is. I used some pretty damn old citra hops in a pale ale along with some pretty fresh and properly stored cascade and simcoe. The citra hops smelled fine but not like what you would expect. The finished beer isn't bad but I am getting a generic, coarse, and danky hop character out of the beer that I don't normally associate with any of the hops. Needless to say, I will be throwing the rest of the Citra out...

Could the culprit just be old hops? The citra only makes up about 22% of the total hops used

the hop schedule was
1 oz Simcoe, 1 oz Cascade - 17 min
1 oz Citra, 1 oz Cascade - 5 min
1 oz Cascade, 1/4 oz Simcoe, 1/4 oz Citra - Dry Hop

estimated IBUs was ~48 for a 1.057 beer.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2016, 07:59:13 am by goschman »
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline Joe Sr.

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4467
  • Chicago - NORTH SIDE
Re: old hops
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2016, 08:33:53 am »
Depending on how much Citra you have, you might try a small SMASH batch as a test to see if they're the problem before you toss them out.

Some extra light DME and some dry yeast would make for a quick simple batch.
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline Iliff Ave

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4507
Re: old hops
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2016, 08:44:01 am »
Depending on how much Citra you have, you might try a small SMASH batch as a test to see if they're the problem before you toss them out.

Some extra light DME and some dry yeast would make for a quick simple batch.

Come to think of it, I did do a 100% citra wheat IPA a while back with the same hops. I kind of recall the same hop character. I liken it to maybe something like Columbus.

A small test batch is a great idea. Maybe I will do that. I am so used to doing 5 gallon all grain by default that I fail to think about other options...
« Last Edit: February 12, 2016, 08:45:48 am by goschman »
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline HoosierBrew

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 13031
  • Indianapolis,IN
Re: old hops
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2016, 08:44:16 am »
The word 'generic' is probably pretty fitting. Really old hops sometimes get to the point that they lose their unique character and seem generically 'hoppy'.  Citra is pretty in-your-face mango to me and if it's lost that, the hops have seen better days.
Jon H.

Offline Iliff Ave

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4507
Re: old hops
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2016, 08:48:04 am »
The word 'generic' is probably pretty fitting. Really old hops sometimes get to the point that they lose their unique character and seem generically 'hoppy'.  Citra is pretty in-your-face mango to me and if it's lost that, the hops have seen better days.

Yeah that seems to be the case here. There is still a good amount left of the original pound which is why I didn't just toss them along time ago. My frugal character can unfortunately affect the quality of my beer from time to time..haha
« Last Edit: February 12, 2016, 08:51:38 am by goschman »
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline Steve Ruch

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1743
Re: old hops
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2016, 02:32:56 pm »
Don't throw them out, put them in a paper bag in the back of a closet for a few years and use them in a lambic.
I love to go swimmin'
with hairy old women

Offline Iliff Ave

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4507
Re: old hops
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2016, 03:32:23 pm »
Don't throw them out, put them in a paper bag in the back of a closet for a few years and use them in a lambic.

Not much of a lambic guy...
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline Steve Ruch

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1743
Re: old hops
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2016, 10:18:30 am »
Don't throw them out, put them in a paper bag in the back of a closet for a few years and use them in a lambic.

Not much of a lambic guy...

I'm not either, but I have several ounces of home grown sterlings in a bag in the closet. I figure who knows I may be in a lambic mood in 2018 or so. Or I can trade them to someone who is a lambic guy.
I love to go swimmin'
with hairy old women

Offline Iliff Ave

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4507
Re: old hops
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2016, 07:36:49 pm »
Thanks all. A couple of days late and the beer is tasting much better. The citra character is definitely not there but the abrasive hop character has smoothed out and the beer is quite enjoyable.

I will probably throw the rest of the citra in with the compost
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale