How to Store Hops: Best Practices for Long-Lasting Freshness

If you’ve got hops growing in your backyard, you’re probably getting pretty excited for that big summer harvest. But once you’ve picked them, what’s the best way to keep them fresh? The secret to long-lasting hops is all in the drying process. I’m going to walk you through how to prep your hops for storage and share a few pro-tips along the way!

Harvesting Hops at the Perfect Time

To get to the good stuff—that yellow, resinous powder called lupulin—you need to make sure you’re harvesting at exactly the right moment. You can’t always tell if a hop is ready just by looking at the outside, so you’ll need to pick a cone and slice it open. That precious lupulin is tucked away behind those tightly closed scales. Look for those signature golden-yellow dots! When you’re checking for ripeness, keep these signs in mind:

• Hops usually ripen between August and September.
• Lupulin should be a vibrant, golden-yellow color.
• You’ll find the powder on the inside of the scales.
• When you cut into a ripe hop, it should release a wonderful, pungent aroma.

Drying Your Hops for Storage

Before you can start using your hops or extracting that lupulin, you’ve got to dry them out. Drying is actually what helps develop that classic hoppy aroma we all love. Plus, it’s the only way to make sure your cones don’t spoil if you’re planning on keeping them for a while.

Here’s my step-by-step guide to drying hops like a pro:

1. First, clip the bines (the long vines) where the cones are growing.
2. Strip away the leaves and tie the bines into small bundles.
3. Hang them upside down in a spot that is dark, dry, and warm.
4. If you prefer, you can pluck the individual cones and spread them out on a drying rack or screen.
5. In a hurry? You can dry them in the oven at 175°F (80°C) for about two hours.
6. Once they’re crisp, store your dried hops in paper bags in a dry place.

By the way, you can also store your hops in the freezer! Just make sure they are completely dry before you toss them in. If they’re dried and frozen properly, they’ll stay fresh for up to a year.