Changes

Aging hops leads to oxidation of acids and oils. Generally, brewers seek to avoid this to preserve the aromatic and bittering properties of their hops by freezing them and storing them in vacuum sealed packaging (oxygen exposure is by far the larger factor for hop degradation, followed by ambient room temperatures, which is significant because hops are often not stored in vacuum sealed packaging). However, some beer styles, including lambic and historical styles, make extensive use of aged hops. Aged hops still retain some antimicrobial properties at least partially from the formation of humulinic acids (see [[Hops#Antimicrobial_Properties|Antimicrobial Properties of Hops]]), and they can be used for microbial inhibition. In addition to their antimicrobial activity, aged hops contribute important flavor and aroma compounds and precursors to beer, while not contributing much of a strong bitterness from iso-alpha acids. These flavor descriptors often include herbal, tea-like, Earth-like, and a more dull bitterness. Low amounts of [[Isovaleric Acid]] might also contribute to the complexity of a beer that has been brewed with aged hops (although the presence of isovaleric acid in aged hops is considered temporary, and will eventually age out of hops that are aged). Historically, some brewers had issues keeping mildew from growing on aged hops that are aged in higher humidity areas (sulfur was used to combat mildew, which often gave the beer a sulfur, rotten egg aroma) <ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30246252?dopt=Abstract Microbial acidification, alcoholization, and aroma production during spontaneous lambic beer production. Jonas De Roos and Luc De Vuyst. 2018. DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.9291.]</ref><ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1228610483833830/ Conversation with Ron Smith and Aaron Barker on historical storage of hops. 02/07/2016.]</ref>.