Hop Longevity

[sama]

craftbrewer website,target hops:

45 - 55% alpha acids remaining after 6 months storage at 20C

does this meen that after 6 mnths of storage i should be almost doubling hop quantities in brews,mind you i store them in the fridge crisper in airtight bags.

 

[newguy]

The alpha acid deterioration numbers are based on storage at 20C. If you keep them in the fridge, close to freezing, the numbers get better. They get better yet if you keep them in the freezer. I don't think that the numbers get perfect (100% retention over time) at normal ~-20C freezer temperatures, but they are high. The oldest hops I have in stock now are some columbus and cascade that I bought almost exactly 4 years ago, which is old even for me. However, they've been stored in my freezer the entire time and I get what I feel is about the calculated/anticipated IBU level when I have used them.

I have to empty some kegs so I can brew the APA and American barleywine I've been meaning to get at so I can use these hops.