How to weigh down nylon bag in secondary?

I know this is an odd question but...I'm planning on putting coconut in a secondary for a brew I'm doing soon. How exactly is this done? As I understand it, coconut floats. How the hell am I supposed to weigh down the steeping bag to keep it on the bottom? Any ideas? My steeping bag is rather large to begin with, and I was even thinking of having part of it stick outside the airlock instead of jamming the whole thing in there...but I don't think that'd work, since, even if I got the bag weighed down, the coconut would still float to the top.

Anyone had any experience with this?

I don't think it would matter if your coconut floated in the fermenter.

You think it'll absorb the flavor just as much floating?

arover said:

You think it'll absorb the flavor just as much floating?

Click to expand...

hops float...

Sanitize some glass marbles and put them in the bag.

That means I gotta find some marbles If I don't even have to throw a bag in there altogether then I might as well not though. Hmmm....

arover said:

You think it'll absorb the flavor just as much floating?

Click to expand...

I don't know how much flavor coconut will impart in a fermentation, but as far as the chemistry of the process is concerned, I think it will. If you are concerned about sinking the coconut, you might want to try putting a little stainless steel silverware or something along those lines in the grain bag you are planning to use. If you are concerned about stainless steel, you could use a porcelain coffee mug or something to weigh it down...

EdWort said:

Sanitize some glass marbles and put them in the bag.

Click to expand...

+1

That would do the trick.

JMSetzler said:

I don't know how much flavor coconut will impart in a fermentation, but as far as the chemistry of the process is concerned, I think it will. If you are concerned about sinking the coconut, you might want to try putting a little stainless steel silverware or something along those lines in the grain bag you are planning to use. If you are concerned about stainless steel, you could use a porcelain coffee mug or something to weigh it down...

Click to expand...

Hmm...Maybe I can just drop a few stainless steel butter knives in there

JMSetzler said:

+1

That would do the trick.

Click to expand...

+2

This is a common trick in kit winemaking to keep grape pack mesh bags weighted down.

what if you shaved some coconut into your mesh bag, then weighed that down? seems like throwing a whole (or 1/2) of a coconut might not give off too much flavor.

Use a shot glass small and easy to sanitize. If you are using a carboy get some SS nuts at Home Depot and drop your nuts

Sanitized glass marbles. I got a bag full of them at the dollar store.

EdWort said:

Sanitize some glass marbles and put them in the bag.

Click to expand...

A couple people beat me to it... but yes I was thinking marbles too.

Stainless steel nuts FTW

I use leftover stainless steel washers (from building my mash tun) to weigh down stuff when I need to, but I usually just leave stuff floating around freely.

I've also heard of using marbles added in sufficient quantities to increase the level of the wort or must after much activity has died down, to minimize headspace in the container being used. Got 3/4 of a gallon of wine and want to keep it in secondary or tertiary without a CO2 setup? Marbles.

whenever I dry hop I sanitize a butter knife and tie it to the bag.

You put the beer in the coconut and drink it all up
You put the beer in the coconut and drink it all up
You put the beer in the coconut and drink it all up
You put the beer in the coconut and call the doctor, woke him up
I said doctor, is there nothing I can take
I said doctor, to relieve this bellyache
I said doctor, is there nothing I can take
I said doctor, to relieve this bellyache

Sorry, couldn't resist. Now the song will be in my head all day.

Couple of quick questions. Have you thought about what the coconut oil will do to head formation? Foam and oil do not play well together. Have you thought about toasting it first? I like coconut but toasted it is a much different flavor. mmmmm
osagedr, nice avatar. http://iam.homebrewtalk.com/osagedr

there's nothing wrong with floating fruit in a secondary. I've got two pounds of cranberries floating in a wit right now.

beerthirty said:

Couple of quick questions. Have you thought about what the coconut oil will do to head formation? Foam and oil do not play well together. Have you thought about toasting it first? I like coconut but toasted it is a much different flavor. mmmmm
osagedr, nice avatar. http://iam.homebrewtalk.com/osagedr

Click to expand...

Wow, a lot of replies since I left. I guess I forgot to say, I'm toasting it in the oven first...as has been recommended over and over. I'm thinking if I can get away with letting it float, I will. I MAY add some coconut milk though, and THAT will definitely add oil...so I'm still deciding.