Cheesefood

Recipes 

I'm going to use whole hops for the first time soon (I feel so nervous). Should I sparge them or squeeze them after removing them from the wort? Seems like their going to sponge up a lot of wort and I'd hate to lose it all.

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Dude

Recipes 

I don't. I adjust the recipe for hop absorption--I don't want to fuss with the added risk of contamination after my wort is cooled. I doubt you'd lose much more than a few pints--and it just isn't worth it in my eyes.

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On Tap: Lake Walk Pale Ale -- Eternity (Raspberry Stout) -- Nutrocker -- Donnybrook Dark
Primary: Lake Walk Pale Ale
Secondary: Summit IPA
Up Next: Smoked Porter -- Pub Ale -- Watermelon Wheat
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DyerNeedOfBeer

Recipes 

If you are using a false bottom in your brew kettle as a strainer, the hops act to further filter the hot break. Sparging or squeezing the hops bed would release this back to the wort which you are collecting. I imagine this would also hold true even if you were siphoning from the kettle.

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homebrewer_99

Recipes 

I use a nylon net on my primary bucket and sparge with the cold water from the freezer. I also squeeze the water from the net.

I know it's wrong, but it works for me.

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HB Bill

Baron von BeeGee

Recipes 

I just let the bag drain naturally as I lift it. I've always been concerned that squeezing the hops excessively could extract tannins or other unwanted flavors from the hops, but I don't really have a factual basis for that. If it works for hb_99 it must be fine.

If I ever get a valve in my kettle I'll probably just toss 'em in loose and let 'em absorb whatever they want.

david_42

Recipes 

My former brewing partner always squeezed the hop bags, until we stopped using bags. Even in our IPAs, it didn't make much difference in volume or flavor. When hops are dehydrated, they lose 80% of their weight. At 100% re-hydration, that would mean 4 oz. of wort per oz. of hops, max. Now, I just let the kettle drain and try to remember to clean the chiller before the hops etch it!

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El Pistolero

Recipes 

What is the formula to adjust for hop absorption, please? TIA

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Primary - Humboldt Hop Rod (4/24)
Primary - NOT Wheat AG SNCA (5/5)
Secondary -
Conditioning - SNCA Clone (3/3),

Cheesefood

Recipes 

I was thinking of jjust catching them in a (sanitary) strainer, then pouring some (sanitary) sparge water over them prior to cooling the wort.

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Past Winners: Caramel Cream Ale #1, Hoegaarden Clone, Boom-Boom Vanilla Ale, Lazy Monk Abbey Style, Amarillo Cream Ale. (AG),

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ScottT

Recipes 

You can do it but it will just dilute your wort. It's up to you but I don't. Just strain them out or leave them in the kettle.

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Scott

Primary: Empty

Secondary #2: Empty

Bottle Conditioning: Oatmeal Stout

Drinking from Keg: Ordinary Bitter, Kolsch

Drinking bottled: Brown Autumn Wee Heavy
Hefe Weizen
Peaches and Cream Weizen


"This is grain, which any fool can eat, but for which the Lord intended a more divine means of consumption... Beer!"
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Next up: Hefe Weizen

Dude

Recipes 

You trying to be funny?

__________________
On Tap: Lake Walk Pale Ale -- Eternity (Raspberry Stout) -- Nutrocker -- Donnybrook Dark
Primary: Lake Walk Pale Ale
Secondary: Summit IPA
Up Next: Smoked Porter -- Pub Ale -- Watermelon Wheat
Planning:
Gone But Not Forgotten:

www.IronOrrBrewery.com