I need some hops that are inexplicably not in my freezer. Since some of the big online HBSs seem to have gone to less than optimal packaging... anyone know of an online HBS that is definitely still doing vacuum or nitrogen flushed packaging? TIA.
http://morebeer.com/category/brewing-hops.html They flush there oxygen barrier bags with inert gas. Their 8 oz packages have a nice solid zipper lock thing if you choose to store your hops in their bags which are also solod grey not letting light in either. I personally like vacuum sealing my hops once opened although their bags are one of the nicest I've seen. The 2 oz packages are not re-sealable though. Edit* I've yet have a package not arrive in 2 days or less! Free shipping on orders 59$ or more. My new favorite online store since they came to PA!
I'll second this. I bought my hops about 3 or 4 months ago. It was my first online bulk buy. I'm a little disappointed that the packages were exactly on weight. I've heard of other guys getting an extra few oz when they buy by the pound. They seem to keep a really good variety through the year and I'd buy from them again.
Midwest seems to be exclusively doing Nitrogen flush now, and of course Hopunion has been doing this for some time. Also, what are you looking for?
They were not nitrogen flushing as of their email correspondence with me a month ago. They claimed something like "for the duration the product is in their hands, the danger of oxidation is minimal." I'm paraphrasing, but that is my recollection. What you are getting in those bags is ambient air.
I recently bought a few ounces of El Dorado from Midwest, they weren't flushed/vacuum sealed and consisted of half shake/hop dust. They still smelled OK, but certainly not ideal, IMO. I would definitely recommend Farmhouse! Good prices, and the hops are well taken care of, from what I can tell.
Yakima Valley Hops ships vacuum sealed mylar bags that can be re-sealed with a Foodsaver. I noticed they have 2013 leaf and are just starting to get 2013 pellet.
Yeah, I asked specifically why they didn't seem to have as many vacuum sealed bags anymore...said the people they use for packaging had gone to nitro-flush. I suppose they could have lied to me.
That's interesting because they specifically told me they were not nitrogen flushing: "Thank you for contacting us. While it is true that we do not nitrogen flush our repackaged hops, we go through our supplies so quickly that we do not belive it necessary to flush them. <other stuff related to a different question deleted> Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions. Cheers, Craig B. www.midwestsupplies.com" Date on this email was 9/23/13
Yeah, it was just an employee that I always see there that told me. I guess the lesson here is not to take what is said at face value, when talking with an employee of Midwest.
An employee at the LHBS told me the best way to get rid of diacetyl (I asked him his experience with Ringwood... big mistake) was to take a sanitized wisk or brush and wisk up the inside of the carboy after fermentation had finished. The best part of all of his advice is that if you have any diacetyl precursor, oxidation or oxygen exposure will convert it to diacetyl.
I prefer vacuum sealed bags as the flushed ones are hard to tell if they are in fact flushed....have always wondered why they don't "blow up" like potato chips packaged at sea level at my elevation (4000')...maybe I don't understand what "flushed" means, but I would think even nitrogen would swell a little.
