Right now I have 10 gallons of https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f69/pliny-bastid-21229/ sitting in my Fermenator. I brewed it 7 days ago and since fermenation has ceased, I'm ready to add the whole leaf hops I purchased from Freshops.
I have never dry hopped in a conical before and am on the fence about whether or not to use a bag. I have a large reusable mesh bag that I could soak in sanitizer and weigh down with marbles. The recipe calls for three hop additions at two week intervals, so if I attach a string to the bag I could empty it out and re-hop with it. Or I could just toss the whole leaf hops in without a bag knowing that they will settle down to the bottom of the conical and not interfere come bottling day.
Since I'll be adding 20+ ounces of hops over the next few weeks, I'm a bit concerned either way. With the bag, I don't like the idea of hauling it out several times (7.5 oz of leaf hops each time) and risking oxidation plus losing a ton of beer. But if I make three hop additions for 2 weeks each without removing the hops, I risk grassy off flavors from prolonged dry hopping. I could make the hop additions at 1 week intervals instead, or just make two hop additions instead of three.
So that's why I'm on the fence. Does anybody else who dry hops in a conical have any advice? This is a big and expensive brew to make, so I'd rather not screw up the dry hopping. Thanks in advance for any feedback.
I have never dry hopped in a conical before and am on the fence about whether or not to use a bag. I have a large reusable mesh bag that I could soak in sanitizer and weigh down with marbles. The recipe calls for three hop additions at two week intervals, so if I attach a string to the bag I could empty it out and re-hop with it. Or I could just toss the whole leaf hops in without a bag knowing that they will settle down to the bottom of the conical and not interfere come bottling day.
Since I'll be adding 20+ ounces of hops over the next few weeks, I'm a bit concerned either way. With the bag, I don't like the idea of hauling it out several times (7.5 oz of leaf hops each time) and risking oxidation plus losing a ton of beer. But if I make three hop additions for 2 weeks each without removing the hops, I risk grassy off flavors from prolonged dry hopping. I could make the hop additions at 1 week intervals instead, or just make two hop additions instead of three.
So that's why I'm on the fence. Does anybody else who dry hops in a conical have any advice? This is a big and expensive brew to make, so I'd rather not screw up the dry hopping. Thanks in advance for any feedback.