I have plans for a pale ale over the next couple of weeks and would like to try adding hops to the secondary fermenter for an added punch! This is something I have not done before so I am hoping that you can help me out with a couple of questions:
1: Can I just add hope pellets loose into the secondary? If so will I have any issues with residue in my bottles and what about sanitation?
2: How many pellets do I add? I know this will probably depend upon the AA of the hops I am using but just wondered what a general rule of thumb might be.
Thanks for your help & hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!
You can simply add the pellets to the primary or secondary (for a pale ale I would consider not doing a secondary, it is not needed and will lengthen the time between fermenter and serving not to mention needlessly raise the risk of potential oxidation or secondary infection). The hops will fall out in a few days. If you decide to go with the primary route wait until fermentation has significantly slowed and the krausen has mostly fallen, then add your hops and let sit another 7-14 days at room temp.
The amount of hops is entirely up to you - but I find that for lower gravity pale ales I like to keep the dry hopping levels on the lower side, .5 - 1 oz per 5 gallons. For English hops I thing that .5 oz per 5 gallons is plenty, for American hops I will go a little higher. But ultimately it will be up to your personal preferences.
Also, if you are kegging you can add the hops in a muslin or nylon bag directly to the keg. This is the best solution because you can start out with a restrained hand and add more if needed.