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12-18-2007, 11:32 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Nederland, TX
Posts: 216
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Leaf hops vs. Pellet hops
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I'm going to start a brew this week using leaf hops for the first time. Whats the difference as far as hopping technique, or what will I do different from when I was using pellets. Is there a difference in taste, anything? Give me the pros and cons of leaf hops and pellet hops!! I'm looking at the leaf hops, I just want to tear the bag open and smell!!!!
Thanks 
Last edited by Dave the Brewer; 12-18-2007 at 11:39 PM.
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12-19-2007, 12:05 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bremerton, WA
Posts: 100
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Did you use a hop bag of some sort when you used pellets. If not you might want to as it will keep a lot of the leaf hops together and make straining the wort easier.
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12-19-2007, 12:09 AM
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#3
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AFK ATM
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: People's Republic of Cambridge
Posts: 3,323
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I made the switch about 6 months ago. The key consideration is adjusting your hop amounts to get the right IBUs (1oz pellets does not equal 1 oz whole leaf). If you've made the right conversion, just throw them in per your hopping schedule, there is no special technique, just throw them in.
The other thing to keep in mind is that leaf hops absorb more water during the boil, so you may need a larger pre-boil wort to end up with the same batch size.
__________________
And now we go AG!
On Tap: Nadda
Primary: Nadda
Planning: Extra Special Bitter
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12-19-2007, 12:24 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Nederland, TX
Posts: 216
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by TheJadedDog
I made the switch about 6 months ago. The key consideration is adjusting your hop amounts to get the right IBUs (1oz pellets does not equal 1 oz whole leaf). If you've made the right conversion, just throw them in per your hopping schedule, there is no special technique, just throw them in.
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I never learned how to get my desired IBUs, so a conversion is from another world. I just compare to different recipes and styles to figure out my hop schedule. Does it take more leaf hops to get the same IBU as pellets with with same AA.
How do I figure out what my IBUs will be with blank amount of hops and blank AA percentages? |
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12-19-2007, 12:26 AM
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#5
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AFK ATM
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: People's Republic of Cambridge
Posts: 3,323
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Davesbrew85
I never learned how to get my desired IBUs, so a conversion is from another world. I just compare to different recipes and styles to figure out my hop schedule. Does it take more leaf hops to get the same IBU as pellets with with same AA.
How do I figure out what my IBUs will be with blank amount of hops and blank AA percentages?
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It takes slightly more leaf hops to get the same IBUs as pellets but I am not sure of the exact conversion factor. I'd recommend downloading some brewing software (ProMash has a free trial, Beersmith might as well) to use when developing your own recipes.
It's not a huge difference so you'd probably be okay with a 1-1 substitution, but you might notice a difference.
__________________
And now we go AG!
On Tap: Nadda
Primary: Nadda
Planning: Extra Special Bitter
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12-19-2007, 01:19 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Parma Hts. OH
Posts: 444
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Wow, how odd this question came up as I just stopped by the LHBS and they only had leaf hops in my variety. I only needed 1.5oz and got 2 total, so I hope that I got enough.
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Secondary - Niagara white wine
Kegged - AH Special Holiday Ale, AH Cream Ale, AH Honey Wheat
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Up next - AH Foster's clone, Labatt's clone, Hard Apple Cider,
The Independence Street Brew House
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12-19-2007, 01:36 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 6,144
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It shoud be unless the AA% is way off. The amount is only about 10% difference in weight. 1.5 oz of pellets might require 1.625 oz or maybe up to 1.75 oz of leaf if the AA% is about the same.
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12-19-2007, 03:29 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: interior Alaska
Posts: 1,210
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+1 for BrewSmith, add about 10% to your pellet spec to figure out how much leaf hops to buy.
I find leaf hops leave fewer particles on the floor of the bottle, but someone else posted it first. I like the flavor of leaf hops a little better, but I can't prove why.
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12-19-2007, 10:17 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Nederland, TX
Posts: 216
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Poindexter
I find leaf hops leave fewer particles on the floor of the bottle, but someone else posted it first. I like the flavor of leaf hops a little better, but I can't prove why.
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Awesome... these are the things I was hoping to hear. Thanks for all the info guys. Unfortunately I'm probably not going to get to brew this week, my girl friend has family coming in so I have to socialize. But after that  |
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12-20-2007, 01:29 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 6,887
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Can someone explain why an 1oz of leaf hops isn't the same as an ounce of pellet hops?
is there something different about the processing of pellet hops, that you get more bang per ounce?
I'm not saying you're not correct...I just wanna know why. I never fell for the question "which is heavier, a pound of bricks or a pound of feathers", and since we're not talking about volume of hops...
I'm just curious and my Palmer book is all the way upstairs.
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Bottled: MOAM, Braggot, Raspberry Melomel, Merlot, Apfelwein, Pyment, Sweet mead, Cabernet
Gal in 2009: 27, Gal in 2010: 34, Gal in 2011: 13, Gal in 2012: 10
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