Leaf Hops

Brewing Processes
1

Would someone mind explaining to me the best way to use leaf hops so that it doesn’t clog up every orifice that I try to get wort out of?

Thanks  ;D

2

Use a hops bag? Muslin or nylon. I buy single use hops bags from my LHBS, they’re only 25cents each…

3

Thanx man.

4

I put em in a 5 gallon paint strainer nylon sack and that is suspended in the middle
of the BK with a PVC/allthread arrangement…
Toss a fist sized agate rock in there to hold it in place right in the main boil roil.

5

I was on the verge of building one of those, but I couldn’t figure out how to get my immersion chiller around it.

6

This is sweet.  Parts list?

7

you put on an oven mitt, lift it out and put the IC in, then put the hop contraption back in with the back in the middle of the IC.  takes a little juggling, but its easy enough.

I built one and used it twice, but then realized I don’t really need it on my current system - its a great tool - here’s a build:

http://www.bayareamashers.org/gadgets/Hop%20bag%20holder.pdf

Cheers.

8

I’m mainly a pellet guy but I built one of those hop bag contraptions for my new system and I LOVE IT!  No more hop-gunk to worry about clogging up the CFC or the fermenters.  It cost me about $10 to build.  Great idea whoever came up with that one. I swear homebrewers are some ingenious dudes.  I was a little worried about ibu loss but it doesn’t seem to be much of an issue.  I do think I will try that rock trick though.
-J.K.L.

9

Thanks.  I’m going to the hardware store on another project this weekend.  Might as well add this to the ever expanding list.

10

I built one when I started using all leaf hops during the “shortage”.  It worked great!!!  I stopped using it when I went back to pellets because I didn’t like it just floating around in the kettle.  For some reason I never thought of a weight in the bag.  I wonder where my son put that bag of stainless steel washers?  Hmmm.

Thanks!

Paul

11

Denny, I just pull the thing out and then drop the chiller in the pot…I think the
goodie is mostly out of the hops by that time.  B.T.W. I dislike the green glop
from the pellet hops…The one I made also does not have those hooks on the
allthreads, just straight pieces and I can scooch it over against one wall of the
BK and have room for the chiller to fit as well…

Also Of Interest is that you can also squeeze the wort back out of the hop flowers
and so the hop loss is Minimal as you remove the unit from the boil.

12

I realized this after the 1st time using it so on the last batch we squeezed them out using the lids from the HLT and BK.  That worked pretty well but I think I’m goin to pick up some of those high-temp (silicone?) BBQ gloves for the next batch.
-J.K.L.

13

I just clip mine to the side of the pot with those big black prism-shaped paper clip thingys.  Works great and leaves the center open.  Mine doesn’t float up even without rocks or washers, I think the bottom is fluttering in the center of the boil, but I don’t think it’s a problem if it’s not?

14

To weight it down, add some glass marbles or a rock made from a relatively neutral mineral (e.g., granite, sandstone). Just make sure you get the weights out before you put the hops down the disposal! Otherwise, you get a very crunchy noise and a very sick appliance.

15

Awesome!!!  I am so glad to see that!  You have just given me a project for this weekend.  Looks like a great idea!

16

I use a false bottom in the kettle and a surescreen in the keg I dry hop in. I’ve never seen so much as a leaf get by either of those. I actually consider pellet hops much trickier to separate.