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Dougie63 · 10-31-2011, 02:53 PM

I may have made a big mistake when dry hopping, I read somewhere that some use marbles or ball bearings to weigh hop bag for dry hopping. Well, I used a large ball bearing, I boiled it with my hop bag for 10 minutes and then submerged them into a star san solultion. I bottled today and I noticed that the ball bearing turned black prolly from the acids from hops. Any danger? Dont seem to have changed the taste of My IPA.

**EdWort** · 10-31-2011, 04:40 PM

Were they stainless steel ball bearings?

I would only use stainless or glass for weights for dry hopping.

bja · 10-31-2011, 04:50 PM

Stainless steel ball bearings aren't commonly used because stainless is "softer" than carbon steel.

Tannic acid (tannins) will turn steel black and actually prevent it from rusting.

Dougie63 · 10-31-2011, 05:08 PM

so does anyone think its ok? this time?

Kahler · 10-31-2011, 05:17 PM

Tough call. I'll let someone else chine in on that.

I use the 1/2" bulkhead coupling to weigh down my bag.

**weirdboy** · 10-31-2011, 05:21 PM

I use glass marbles from the dollar store. Dirt cheap and easy to sanitize by just boiling them in water.

**Bobby_M** · 10-31-2011, 05:24 PM

I used the SS balls out of the Sanke neck. They're like 3/4" in diameter and nice and heavy.

Kahler · 10-31-2011, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby_M

I used the SS balls out of the Sanke neck. They're like 3/4" in diameter and nice and heavy.

Well played sir.

**nutty_gnome** · 10-31-2011, 05:38 PM

I used cow magnets when I was't 'going commando' with my dry hops. The appropriate cow magents are stainless, magnetic (to pull all of that pesky iron out of the beer) and heavier than any stainless ball that can fit through a carboy neck. Google them, they are for sale on ebay as well.

**Bobby_M** · 10-31-2011, 09:05 PM

I had never heard of cow magnets before so I wiki'd it and now I have some more useless information in my head. I did come across the term "tramp iron" which sounds awesome. Sounds like something an ex-wife would use to press a blouse.