Hop Back

Anyone use a hop back? I would really like to do something to help with the break material and trub that invariably gets into my fermenter. I also really really like lots of hop aroma and almost always dry hop as well.

So.... anyone want to share their hop back designs and experiences?

I'd like to manufacture one but here is a fellow brewer from Australia that has a pretty nice design that I plan to follow. I'm going to get in contact with him to see if he has any pointers, hints, or advice when I make mine. I'm thinking more on the order of 3" threaded stainless pipe and brass or CPVC threaded caps for easy packing, etc. My plan is to simply use some braided stainless for about $4 so I'm thinking for around $35-$40 I can have everything I need. Here's the link to the hopback designed by Graham Sanders in Australia. http://oz.craftbrewer.org/Library/Gear/GSanders/hopback.shtml

You could simply copy the hop back design sold by B3 and fashion one out of a Bain Marie pot or make one out of a stainless steel food storage container. All you would need to incorporate would be a couple of bulkhead fittings. Since these are meant to be used with whole hops, there shouldn't really be a need for a false bottom. I think B3's design is a bit of overkill with that.

http://morebeer.com/product_images/1/2537.jpg

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=101266&RN=204

I plan on building one myself in the near future.

I've been thinking about setting something up like an old coffee percolator, is this the concept of the hop back? or is there a pump involved in the hop back?

beerboardsandbaja said:

I've been thinking about setting something up like an old coffee percolator, is this the concept of the hop back? or is there a pump involved in the hop back?

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Normally you would pump hot wort into the hop back as this would ensure a smooth and steady flow of wort through the hop back and chiller; but I imagine that with careful design, it could be incorporated into a gravity feed system. I myself would just use the pump.

In regard to hop back design, its simply an inline filter which uses hops as the filtering medium. Follow that concept and you'll find there's more than one way to do it. Just don't overcomplicate the design and make sure any materials you use can withstand temps up to 200 plus degrees F.