Hops bag options

Ok, here it is, my first nOob question.

I have a starter kit and ingredient kit coming from Midwest.
Last night I was looking though the instructions online for the ingredient kit and it mentions to use a nylon boiling bag for the hops.
Well, I didn't order one (not knowing that I needed one), what can be used for this that is available locally? Anyone have a good idea for me?


Thanks.

Go to Lowes and pick up a 5 gallon paint strainer.

I have a bunch of muslin bags left from when I was doing PM's that I use for hop bags now.

+1 to the 5 gallon paint strainer bag. I just used one for my last brew, and it was the easiest brewday yet. At home depot I got 2 for 3$.

The 1 gallon paint strainers at lowes make for great single hop additions. You can toss in up to 2 ounces, then tie the end in a knot and toss in the kettle.

You get 2 for $1.98 so the pricing rocks!

Awesome.
Off to H.D I will go.


Thanks!




*edit*
Or maybe to Lowes! haha.

I have not been able to find them at HD. If you do, please post the SKU number here.

You could also buy some queen size pantyhose (nude). If you do, no, no one is looking at you :cross:

RommelMagic said:

You could also buy some queen size pantyhose (nude). If you do, no, no one is looking at you :cross:

Click to expand...

Why am I not surpirsed to get a response about pantyhose from someone with an avatar like that?

:cross:

EdWort said:

I have not been able to find them at HD. If you do, please post the SKU number here.

Click to expand...

Don't have the SKU number, but I got two 1 gallon bags and two 5 gallon bags at HD for all of $5.35.

I'm in the minority here, I guess, but I don't use hops bags. I just chuck them in the pot at the correct times. Leaf hops just float around and are strained out if I strain the cooled wort into the fermenter. Pellet hops just kind of disintegrate to the bottom.

YooperBrew said:

I'm in the minority here, I guess, but I don't use hops bags. I just chuck them in the pot at the correct times. Leaf hops just float around and are strained out if I strain the cooled wort into the fermenter. Pellet hops just kind of disintegrate to the bottom.

Click to expand...

I've done both and don't see any added benefit from the hop bags. Yes, they cut down on the mess when moving the cooled wort to the primary. But those nylon bags are really at PITA to clean. You're just moving the mess from one place to another.

I guess I wasn't sure if they were a necessity or not.
With not having received my kit yet I have not actually seen what the brew-ready hops look like, is it something that can be strained out easily?

Heck, I'll still probably get a couple bags just to have on hand.

They're easy to strain if you have a big strainer. They can also go right into your primary and they'll settle to the bottom eventually. Whatever way you go, there's no way to avoid the mess factor.

I use them because I chill externally and can't have all that crap getting into my pump or chiller. If I ever convert back to an IC, I'll probably skip it.

Does it look like I picked up the right thing?
Got it at Lowes. < $2

Same exact one I use.

I know that some of you guys use the crazy bad a$$ 5 gallon strainer with the PVC collar and all-threads.

Do you use a new bag every time or clean them out? If you clean them how? Maybe just a hose from the other direction?

Mike

The ones that use the PVC collar use a clamp. While I don't have one of those, I would imagine you would unclamp it and just wash it out with water. I use a small nylon bag with a drawstring. I wash mine with water to get all the hop residue out and used a little bit of soap as it will be sitting a while. I then rinsed A LOT. It will be in the boiling wort so I doubt that it matters all that much.

I'm not really worried about infection because of the boiling. I'm worried about putting flavors into my beer that I don't want.

Mike

EdWort said:

I have not been able to find them at HD. If you do, please post the SKU number here.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure of the SKU number, and it took me forever to find them, but I found them in the paint sprayer aisle, by all the attachments and such.

blk94f150 said:

I'm not really worried about infection because of the boiling. I'm worried about putting flavors into my beer that I don't want.

Mike

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If you are just using it for boiling hops in your wort, I think you will be fine. It is being used for the same thing each time and that means that even after washing it if there is still smells or tastes I guess of hops (mine is just stained, no smells) it really shouldn't make a difference.

For cleaning the bags out, I might be crazy, but right after the brewing, i shake the majority of the hops out, and then I sit them somewhere to completely dry out over night. The next day, I just rub it together and the hops just crumble away. And then I just rinse sanitize and put in a ziplock bag till next time.

That sounds good. It is just going to be boiled again, so you may not even have to sanitize it.

How many uses are you getting out of the bags? What are they made of?

Mike

I couldn't tell you, I have not had to replace mine yet. 4 or 5 outta each so i dunno yet.

blk94f150 said:

I know that some of you guys use the crazy bad a$$ 5 gallon strainer with the PVC collar and all-threads.

Do you use a new bag every time or clean them out? If you clean them how? Maybe just a hose from the other direction?

Click to expand...

I get about 4-6 batches out of each bag, eventually they develop small leaks.

After the boil, I just pull the bag and let the contents cool. The hop sludge congeals into one big clump, so I just invert it and 95% of the contents falls out into my composter. (Joining the spent grains that are already in there!) From there, it just needs a quick rinse in the sink.

shecky said:

I've done both and don't see any added benefit from the hop bags. Yes, they cut down on the mess when moving the cooled wort to the primary. But those nylon bags are really at PITA to clean. You're just moving the mess from one place to another.

Click to expand...

I found the 5 gallon paint strainer bags easy to clean with just plain water and you can keep reusing them. The hops come out in a ball.

IFMracin said:

Why am I not surpirsed to get a response about pantyhose from someone with an avatar like that?

:cross:

Click to expand...

Well, it was kinda funny the first time I bought them. Picture a 220 # guy standing at the pantyhose section of a grocery store with his 5 yr old daughter comparing things he's never purchased before. So I was looking for Queen sized nude colored hose and had kind of a hard time finding it. Maybe it didn't look as weird as I thought it was but I felt a stare from some old guy and his wife so it was slightly discomforting. I almost wanted to explain my self

YooperBrew said:

I'm in the minority here, I guess, but I don't use hops bags. I just chuck them in the pot at the correct times. Leaf hops just float around and are strained out if I strain the cooled wort into the fermenter. Pellet hops just kind of disintegrate to the bottom.

Click to expand...

I'm with Yoop on this one. For a first time brewer, my advice would be to keep it simple and not bother straining. I never strain, never have hops in the finished product. Other than the fear of clogged plumbing, I see no real reason to strain, especially for a noob brewing up batch no. 1.

Mike

RommelMagic said:

Well, it was kinda funny the first time I bought them. Picture a 220 # guy standing at the pantyhose section of a grocery store with his 5 yr old daughter comparing things he's never purchased before. So I was looking for Queen sized nude colored hose and had kind of a hard time finding it. Maybe it didn't look as weird as I thought it was but I felt a stare from some old guy and his wife so it was slightly discomforting. I almost wanted to explain my self

Click to expand...

I can picture that, and it's darn funny!

If you would have tried to explanin it to them it probably would have just made it worse!

Should have asked them if they thought it would hide your face. Bet they would have left you alone then.

IFMracin said:

I can picture that, and it's darn funny!

If you would have tried to explanin it to them it probably would have just made it worse!

Click to expand...

Mirage said:

Should have asked them if they thought it would hide your face. Bet they would have left you alone then.

Click to expand...

Funny you both should say that. Those thoughts actually crossed my mind at the time.

I have no idea where this thread went. I was just surprised in it's length in such a short amount of time.

RommelMagic said:

You could also buy some queen size pantyhose (nude). If you do, no, no one is looking at you :cross:

Click to expand...

RommelMagic - All I can say if that avitar is your wife, don't let her within 100 ft of me.

RommelMagic said:

Maybe it didn't look as weird as I thought it was but I felt a stare from some old guy and his wife so it was slightly discomforting. I almost wanted to explain my self

Click to expand...

I have known many a husband who gets a frantic call from their wife/girlfriend who just got a run from hell and has a big meeting/presentation/something and can't get out to a store. Old ball and chain dutifully runs to the store during lunch and goes through the same thing.
I'm the guy that walks in and yells out, "I need help, what the >>>> are nude nylons, and heavy flow pads? "
It is like Mosses parting the red sea, the manager is helping me in seconds and everyone gets out of the way. ( I hate lines ) :rockin: