Do malt and hops used to brew beer go bad?
Jdog 17 May 2010 at 3:28 pm # Yes and no. Regarding malt, the freshest malt is always the best. This is why some of the world’s largest breweries malt their own barley. Malt should be stored at room temperature and as air-tight as possible to avoid “malt bugs” which can live in your grain. Malt that is a year old is still acceptable to use, but may not provide you with the freshest tasting beer. The freshest hops are the best and most potent for beer, as the primary bittering component (alpha acid) is at its highest. Alpha Acid will degrade over time; a 1 oz sample would require about 1.25 oz after a year to acheive the same level of bitterness. Hops should be stored in the refridgerator or freezer to maxmize their potential. But again, hops that are a year old will still be able to make great beer. There are even certain styles of Belgian beer that actually call for “aged hops”. So the answer to your question is go ahead and use the ingredients that are 1 year old. The final product s
