DIY Hopback

**Dr_Deathweed** · 04-21-2009, 01:25 AM

Needed:

2 male 3/8" barbs
1 female 3"8" barb
1 3/8" compression cap
4 #11 O-rings
Hose clamps
stainless steel braid
1 mason jar
a couple of spare lids
Teflon tape
some spare hose

I decided to make this since I never seem to get the hop aroma I am looking for with my current setup. I figured go ahead and give this a shot, because if nothing else I am only out $20 in parts, most of which I can easily use for something else.

First I took a mason jar lid and drilled a couple holes in it. I suggest having some spares because if you don't have the lid secured or your drill going fast enough you will shred the thin metal of the lid. I used a dremel tool to enlarge the holes the slight amount needed to fit the barbs in.

One of the holes uses 1 male and 1 female barb with a couple O-rings, while the other uses the male and compression cap.

The idea here is that hot wort from the kettle comes in one side (the side with the compression cap) and leaves through the other the 2-barbed side which will have the stainless steel braid attached.

I did a simple test run with water and it seemed to work great with no leaks or anything. The leak in the picture is from the march pump since I didnt use any hoseclamps on the hoses yet.

I stopped here tonight since I need to make dinner, but my next step will be placing the braid over the dip-tube. This way I can fill the jar with my hops and fill it half full with wort, hook up my march pump on the outlet, and draw from my boil kettle, through the hop back with the march pump, and into my CFC.

After I finish making it I will do a more elaborate test run, and use it in its inaugural brew of an IPA to enter into Edworts IPA competition this summer

I will post more pics as I go and answer any questions that may arise.

**amishland** · 04-21-2009, 02:42 AM

Nice I was just telling some one I was interested in making or buying a hopback.

**bendavanza** · 04-21-2009, 03:00 PM

My concern would be the glass breaking from the boiling hot wort. It may be a good idea to pre heat the jar.

MNBugeater · 04-21-2009, 04:06 PM

That is a Mason canning jar that when used for its intended purpose is boiled in an enamel canning pot to sanitize it. I suspect it can withstand boiling temperatures.

**bendavanza** · 04-21-2009, 04:11 PM

It may be a good idea to see what happens if you pour boiling water into it at room temps, or outdoor (potentially cold) brewing temps, the boiling for snaitization method heats more slowly and evenly.
-Ben

**Dr_Deathweed** · 04-21-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNBugeater

That is a Mason canning jar that when used for its intended purpose is boiled in an enamel canning pot to sanitize it. I suspect it can withstand boiling temperatures.

My thoughts exactly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdavanza

It may be a good idea to see what happens if you pour boiling water into it at room temps, or outdoor (potentially cold) brewing temps, the boiling for snaitization method heats more slowly and evenly.
-Ben

As long as you are not going from the freezer to boiling you should be fine. I have used these jars for holding hot grease out of frier's on multiple occasions. But, in order to "prime" the system, the jar needs to have some liquid in it, which can serve as your pre-warming step for those that live in climates where it dips below 30deg more often than 1 day every 2 years

**bendavanza** · 04-21-2009, 07:31 PM

Very cool, I look forward to your results, this would be a very inexpensive DIY.
-Ben

**IrregularPulse** · 04-21-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdavanza

Very cool, I look forward to your results, this would be a very inexpensive DIY.
-Ben

+1...

. .

. ..

**samc** · 04-21-2009, 08:50 PM

I would consider adding a round piece of steel (large fender washer?) to the top of the cap to give a more solid base for the fittings to attach.

**Dr_Deathweed** · 04-21-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samc

I would consider adding a round piece of steel (large fender washer?) to the top of the cap to give a more solid base for the fittings to attach.

I had thought of that but I ran into a space issue due to the diameter of the washers and the diameter of the lid with both holes. You can probable fit the washers if you use 1/4" fittings with 3/8" barbs, but HD was out of these when i went and bout the parts.

As of now, I plan on finishing this tonight and posting pictures, and doing a test brew this weekend.