Grannyknot
Well-Known Member
In my last few IPA batches, I've experimented with large quantities of dry hops. Usually 5-7oz. in a 5 gallon batch. The problem I always have is the oils released usually cloud the beer quite a bit, even if I cold crash for 5-7 days. So yesterday, I was at the LHBS, and the owner and I were talking about filtering beer. I told him I was thinking about getting one of those whole house water filter systems that everyone seems to use, and trying it to see if I can get my heavily dry hopped beers any clearer. Below is what he said....
1.) He felt that those filter systems decreased the shelf life of beers, because no matter how much you purge the system with star san, there is always going to be oxygen trapped in the filter element that will be introduced to the beer.
2.) He felt the filter systems were really only good for removing suspended yeast & other sediment from beer. I asked him why he thought this, and he said that on heavily dry hopped beers, the filter will actually remove some of the oils from the beer, somewhat diminishing the returns of dry hopping. He apparently filters into a keg, then adds leaf hops in a bag to the keg, which then adds oils to the beer.
He wasn't trying to sell me an alternative product or anything, so I took it as interesting theories. Any thoughts on these, or common reasons that could debunk these ideas?
In addition, if anyone has any methods for getting clear beer that still has excellent hop aroma, that would be awesome.
1.) He felt that those filter systems decreased the shelf life of beers, because no matter how much you purge the system with star san, there is always going to be oxygen trapped in the filter element that will be introduced to the beer.
2.) He felt the filter systems were really only good for removing suspended yeast & other sediment from beer. I asked him why he thought this, and he said that on heavily dry hopped beers, the filter will actually remove some of the oils from the beer, somewhat diminishing the returns of dry hopping. He apparently filters into a keg, then adds leaf hops in a bag to the keg, which then adds oils to the beer.
He wasn't trying to sell me an alternative product or anything, so I took it as interesting theories. Any thoughts on these, or common reasons that could debunk these ideas?
In addition, if anyone has any methods for getting clear beer that still has excellent hop aroma, that would be awesome.