oceanselv

Recipes 

I have always brewed in my garage. However,with the nice weather finally here I plan on taking everything outside to my patio. The major drawback I see is the pollen spores starting to float around. Does anyone here in the South East have any tips on keeping as much of the pine pollen out of the wort as possible?

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wyzazz

Recipes 

I brew on my covered patio when the pine pollen starts flyin!

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david_42

Recipes 

A fine mesh screen keeps almost everything out. Go to your local hardware store and buy a small window screen kit.

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Kirbster

Recipes 

I wondered the same thing living in Raleigh. I boil outside with a burner but carry the wort inside to cool in the sink with an immersion chiller. I dont worry too much about the boil outside with the pollen just because of the heat generated would kill anything like that. Maybe when you do your cool down you can cover the pot with a piece of tin foil? Should offer fair protection against all this green stuff.

kidsmakeyoucrazy

Recipes 

I've got the same problem here in Murfreesboro. The pine pollen is worse than I ever remember it this year. I was going to brew this weekend but I don't think I will. I can wipe off the table outside and in 30 minutes it's completely covered again. The air actually has a yellow / green tint to it.

Barc

Recipes 

I hear you guys and believe this is the worst I've ever seen it, as well. It reminds me a lot of Korea when it is yellow dust season there's so much in the air.

So far as keeping it out, I'd suggest NOT covering the pot while cooling. I've found this takes MUCH longer to cool than leaving it even slightly open. I believe David has a point and putting a mesh screen over it may be the best alternative. At least at first, it is going to be steaming and keeping most things out. As it gets cooler, I'd suggest putting a lid partially over the screen to keep more pollen out. Add your yeast as quickly as possible to keep any wild yeast from getting any kind of foothold.

And, good luck!

smokinghole

Recipes 

I do not miss having my truck covered in pine pollen one bit! I lived in NWFL for 5 years and when the wind blew it was a new cloud over and over.

As for keeping it out you could get some felt maybe instead of a window screen or maybe even an air filter for your hvac if you have forced air. Depending on how big your pot is you can just set the filter on top or if you do the felt you can just drape it over the top and tie it off while it's cooling. That should do the trick.

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s1080

Recipes 

I would think that the boiling wort would knock out any effect the pollen would have. In SC it has been a pretty bad year as well but I have had no ill effect from brewing outdoors however, I do my cooling indoors.

hoppymonkey

Recipes 

I better buy a screen myself tommorow. The pollen count is 5700 here this morning. Hopefully the rain tommorow will knock it down before I brew saturday.

oceanselv

Recipes 

I brewed Saturday and used a mesh screen over the kettle during the boil and the cooling. We shall see how it turns out.

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Das Leben is zu kurz um schiess Bier zu trinken