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What to do with Left over hops?

Post #1 made 11 years ago
by bundy
Guys, just wondering what you do with left over hops from previous brews?

I seem to be getting a stock of a bit of this and a bit of that laying around and may never use them again. If it's a hop I use regularly it's not an issue, but some brews I've tried I'm very unlikely to bother with again.

Are there any smart ideas to use these hops up or is it pretty much a case of not worth the hassle?

I've read some people substitute bittering hops with something similar, but has anyone tried doing that with a bit of a cocktail of hop varieties?
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Post #2 made 11 years ago
by Rick
I keep mine vacuum sealed in mason jar, then put in a freezer. They should be good for a few years, so I can't ever say I won't need them again.

There's always Bob's hop vodka.
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Post #3 made 11 years ago
by PistolPatch
bundy, you gave me your man flu so I don't know why I am even answering your question :evil:.

:). I know the problem you are going through and the way I would play it in hindsight, is on every brew, get rid of the dreg hops by using them as bittering hops. In other words, never let them build up like I and you and probably Rick are doing. Also, if you have a regular "house brew", then try getting rid of them in that recipe as you might even learn something - maybe???
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Post #4 made 11 years ago
by mally
I asked the same thing about 2 years ago here.

Interesting thread, but I still don't think anybody understood what my point was.

I still believe there is a huge amount of aroma and flavour in used hops, more so if only dry hopped, and non-existent in "long" boiled.
Last edited by mally on 06 Aug 2014, 21:54, edited 1 time in total.
G B
I spent lots of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered
I've stopped drinking, but only when I'm asleep
I ONCE gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life
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Post #5 made 11 years ago
by PistolPatch
Mally, this thread is actually different from, your original one. In your one, you are asking what you should do with hops that have touched water whilst bundy is actually asking, "I bought a 100 gram pack of hops and have 15 grams left over. What should I do with that 15 grams?"

Have I got this wrong? I have man flu so may not be reading/writing well.
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Post #7 made 11 years ago
by mally
ahhh... OK

Makes sense now. I got thrown by the "previous brews" comment.

Nevermind :sneak:
G B
I spent lots of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered
I've stopped drinking, but only when I'm asleep
I ONCE gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life
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Post #8 made 11 years ago
by DaveDoran
Save up all the unused hops. Mix them all together in a bowl and make a surprise ipa im thinking. FWH and late hop additions.
Surprise.

Warning: Could taste like crap, could be great though.

Post #9 made 11 years ago
by bundy
DaveDoran wrote:Save up all the unused hops. Mix them all together in a bowl and make a surprise ipa im thinking. FWH and late hop additions.
Surprise.

Warning: Could taste like crap, could be great though.
I'm not that brave Dave.

If I spend the better part of a day getting my brew together I'd hate to risk it by throwing in hops indiscriminately. (Especially when I have NFI what I am doing half the time.) :lol:

I do as you do though and the old zip lock in the freezer, just looked yesterday and a few too many bibs and bobs sitting there waiting for a purpose. Hence this post.

Maybe I just have to brew more often or buy bigger packs of hops. I dunno. Was hoping for an easy foolproof solution.
Last edited by bundy on 07 Aug 2014, 18:06, edited 1 time in total.
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Post #10 made 11 years ago
by bundy
PistolPatch wrote:bundy, you gave me your man flu so I don't know why I am even answering your question :evil:.

:). I know the problem you are going through and the way I would play it in hindsight, is on every brew, get rid of the dreg hops by using them as bittering hops. In other words, never let them build up like I and you and probably Rick are doing. Also, if you have a regular "house brew", then try getting rid of them in that recipe as you might even learn something - maybe???
Can't blame me Pat you can't catch man flu (or any other nasty diseases) through a keyboard, so my doctor tells me! :lol:

Though I do feel for you. On the upside you've only got 12 more weeks to go. May be more......

Been that long since I picked up this stupid bug, and every day since I continue to cough up half a lung. I'm over it....On the upside it hasn't stopped me enjoying a beer or three.....


But back on subject. If I use bittering hops that are totally not suitable to a brew style will they not be tasted down the track? Will they affect the beer adversely in any way?
Eg using Hallertau hops as bittering in an APA would that just be stupid or wouldn't really matter?

Cheers and hope you get cover the worst soon
Last edited by bundy on 07 Aug 2014, 18:15, edited 1 time in total.
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Post #11 made 11 years ago
by BobBrews
Marijuana is related too hops. :whistle: Crush them and smoke them! They fall out of the cigarette paper easily so you have to be careful. They taste like crap but you won't have mosquitoes buzzing around you for a fortnight. Or Hop Vodka?

http://www.stempski.com/hop_vodka.php
Last edited by BobBrews on 07 Aug 2014, 19:49, edited 1 time in total.
tap 1 Raspberry wine
tap 2 Bourbon Barrel Porter
tap 3 Czech Pilsner
tap 4 Triple IPA 11% ABV
Pipeline: Mulled Cider 10% ABV

http://cheesestradamus.com/ Brewers challenge!
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Post #12 made 11 years ago
by DaveDoran
bundy wrote:
DaveDoran wrote:Save up all the unused hops. Mix them all together in a bowl and make a surprise ipa im thinking. FWH and late hop additions.
Surprise.

Warning: Could taste like crap, could be great though.
I'm not that brave Dave.

If I spend the better part of a day getting my brew together I'd hate to risk it by throwing in hops indiscriminately. (Especially when I have NFI what I am doing half the time.) :lol:

I do as you do though and the old zip lock in the freezer, just looked yesterday and a few too many bibs and bobs sitting there waiting for a purpose. Hence this post.

Maybe I just have to brew more often or buy bigger packs of hops. I dunno. Was hoping for an easy foolproof solution.
I think im going to do it. probably a few brews away from it at the moment but its in the pipeline so to speak. I bought 500g of cascade and columbus a few months back. Thats a lot of 20L batches.
Might scale it back and do a pale ale round 25-30 ibu. FWH most of that way if its a bittering hop it will still get the full boil and if its aroma it will still get the complexity that fwh brings.
Fast forwarding might even just do a 10L batch just to see. Handful of this and that.
What could possibly go wrong.....
Last edited by DaveDoran on 08 Aug 2014, 06:02, edited 1 time in total.

Post #13 made 11 years ago
by BlackIslandBrew
I periodically pressure can my starter wort, and I save my smidges of hop pellets for them, putting a small amount of hops in each jar. Maybe it's homebrew voodoo, but I like giving my yeast starter a similar environment as it will be working in.

Post #14 made 11 years ago
by PistolPatch
That's a great idea from BlackIslandBrew and a hopped starter is preferable if my memory serves me correctly. Welcome aboard BIB :peace:.
bundy wrote:
PistolPatch wrote:...If I use bittering hops that are totally not suitable to a brew style will they not be tasted down the track? Will they affect the beer adversely in any way?
Eg using Hallertau hops as bittering in an APA would that just be stupid or wouldn't really matter?
Two things here that I should have mentioned above...

1. Don't necessarily do a complete substitution.
2. Don't go way off track.

Yep, Hallertau in an APA would be a bad choice (number 2 above). Firstly, the AA% is much lower. Secondly, from what I gather (though I don't have the experience/skill to know) bittering hops will still contribute more than just bittering to the brew (eg softness/harshness).

I'd have no problems personally completely swapping Galaxy for Amarillo as a bittering hop on an APA but if you are in doubt, just go 50/50 or 75/25. Certainly though don't be scared to throw the hops in. You aren't going to wreck the brew.

It is amazing though how quickly you can build up a collection of hops and with some of then have absolutely no idea why you bought them or what you used them in. I never have this problem of course, because I record everything perfectly.

:lol:.
PP
Last edited by PistolPatch on 08 Aug 2014, 19:30, edited 1 time in total.
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