Denny, do you use whole hops or pellets for dry hopping?
Usually whole, because most of the dry hopping I do is Am. styles and I tend to use whole hops for those. But it’s not a hard and fast rule…it just depends on which form the hops I want to use are in and which is in the best shape.
I dry hop, frequently.
I never use a bag.
I will typically either dry hop in primary, after most fermentation has ended…Or the in a secondary, when I rack.
Normally, the hops will fall to the bottom, so I don’t need the bag to keep them from going into the keg.
Do you use pellets? I’ve never had whole hops fall to the bottom. They just float. Pellets on the other hand sink to the bottom.
In your experience do you see a difference in aroma between pellets and whole hops?
Yes, I normally use pellets.
Sorry…I should have clarified that.
For whole hops, you can use a stainless steel scrubby (or fine mesh), at the bottom of your racking cane.
They won’t end up in your keg/bottles.
The only difference comes from the quality of the hops, not the form they’re in. Good pellets are better than not so good whole, and vice versa.