Simplest Hop Sock / Stopper Ever???

Drill-less. Noise-less. A 5 minute assembly, tops. 4 parts all ready to roll not including screws and screen.

Here's the baby:



(2) 4" galvanized pipe U-Clamps.
(2) 1/4" threaded rods.
(4) 1/4" wingnuts and washers.

All pretty much in a 3-aisle radius at Home Depot.

With a 2-gallon paint screen inserted (note screen is elasticized so it stays put no problem). I did stretch the 4" U-clamps a bit to make them rounder when assembled together. Otherwise the shape was more oval-like.



Now I know some of you won't be comfortable with the sock just hanging like that, so if you want to make it rock-solid secure, add safety pins (ROCK solid).



I think I done good!

Excellent.

Similar to the one using the PVC coupling in the center, but no risk of melting PVC. Thanks for sharing.

nice......

Thanks, I did start out wanting to make the PVC version, but my HD didn't have a collar that size, so I just improvised and came up with this. Really not hard to create some sort of rig with all the miscellaneous stuff a HD-like store has...

Got me the PVC type. No melting problems here. This totally beats the muslin hop sack.

Your design is nice and simple. I'd try to get rid of the clamps some how.

Mine sits on the lower lip of my keggle. Its more or less locked in place when I drop it on the lip.

I call it Der Hopgezeignet. - Its a made up word meaning; Hop Awesomeness!!! Gezeignet means awesome in German. I just added hop & net for a new terminology.

Replace the overkill C-clamps with some binder clips stolen from the office and you're onto something.

Bobby_M said:

Replace the overkill C-clamps with some binder clips stolen from the office and you're onto something.

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I agree. Try some of these.

Nice!

But to be honest the clamps/clips aren't required either... but the clips are a better idea.

I agree the c clamps have to go. What about using a couple stainless steel paper clips?

I'll stick with Lil Sparky's design.

Definitely need something to clamp that strainer bag down. You lift that thing with 4-5 ounces of hop pellets, and it's going to drop like a rock.

BierMuncher said:

I'll stick with Lil Sparky's design.

Definitely need something to clamp that strainer bag down. You lift that thing with 4-5 ounces of hop pellets, and it's going to drop like a rock.

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Most definately 1000%

BierMuncher said:

I'll stick with Lil Sparky's design.

Definitely need something to clamp that strainer bag down. You lift that thing with 4-5 ounces of hop pellets, and it's going to drop like a rock.

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I have seen that keggle somewhere, I thought it was just a joke, I didnt know it was real.:rockin:

BierMuncher said:

I'll stick with Lil Sparky's design.

Definitely need something to clamp that strainer bag down. You lift that thing with 4-5 ounces of hop pellets, and it's going to drop like a rock.

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Biermuncher - how many beers were under your belt as you cut that keggle top off?

A wino packed with $hit in his britches, drunk on ripple, could have done a better job.

Schlenkerla said:

Biermuncher - how many beers were under your belt as you cut that keggle top off?

A wino packed with $hit in his britches, drunk on ripple, could have done a better job.

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Yeah but I gave him the night off to service yer sister.......

...er...uh...just kidding....I'm working up a good Monday nite druck rite now.

Bar Keepers Friend is your friend!

I'll let you guys know how it works out next brew day, which will probably be in a week...

BierMuncher said:

Yeah but I gave him the night off to service to do my sister.......

...er...uh...just kidding....I'm working up a good Monday nite druck rite now.

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Me 2. I'm loving my pub ale. 3.2% ABV (Actually its dudes recipe) - but I must have drank about 6 already.

Damn that looks tasty!

fastricky said:

Damn that looks tasty!

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Oh yah, you gotta love oatmeal and wheat in a craft light beer! :rockin:

I'm wondering how well the hop sack will work with an electric keggle. It will probably sit down low enough to hit the element, but since the wort is moving past the element so quickly (boiling) it may keep the sack off it. Thoughts?

I don't like just using the stainless scrubbie over/under the dip tube, doesn't seem to work as well. Also I may go with a bottom mounted drain which means it would be even harder to filter out the hops.

BierMuncher said:

I'll stick with Lil Sparky's design.

Definitely need something to clamp that strainer bag down. You lift that thing with 4-5 ounces of hop pellets, and it's going to drop like a rock.

View attachment 9958

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Wouldn't you want to flip the PVC piece around so the wider end was at the bottom? Easier to keep the strainer on...

Thought of the best idea to retain the bag: safety pins.

However I have to say, I'm nearly sure it's not necessary - I gave the bag a real hearty pull and it wasn't going anywhere. I'm also only doing 5 gallon batches so the amount of hops in there ain't gonna weigh it down that bad...

Where do you find safety pins these days tho'??

Here's what I found out can happen to regular PVC after a long boil. I changed to a piece of metal ducting.

Yup, the safety pins were the answer. I could put a 40lbs weight in that sock and the mesh will rip before it slips thru the frame.

why not just sandwich the bag between 2 brackets piggy backed on each side? This would be the best.

Schlenkerla said:

Oh yah, you gotta love oatmeal and wheat in a craft light beer! :rockin:

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What recipe is that? I looked at your recipes and your english pub ale doesn't say nothin, no how (gotta love the triple negative) about oatmeal and wheat.

Could use a quick brewing quafin ale. QBQA.

As for Biermuncher's keggle. He doesn't like things pretty. He likes things mean and ugly. Have you met his wife?

JK

I used this recipe. Its Dudes Pub Ale. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f64/pub-ale-21226/

I guess the same thing could be used for my stove top extract brews too. Might have to make one this weekend. It would be for hops only no grains. Has anybody used one of these for extract? All the pictures I see are usually AG

spitfire said:

I guess the same thing could be used for my stove top extract brews too. Might have to make one this weekend. It would be for hops only no grains. Has anybody used one of these for extract? All the pictures I see are usually AG

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I have not, but it would work the same as long as it hung below the boil line.

I think the simplist hop sack is a paint strainer and a clothing line pin. Just clip the top of the sack to the rim of the pot and go.

Are any of you concerned about using non-stainless threaded rod and/or safety pins, etc. for this project? I'd think that steam would condense on the metal parts and drip back into the beer... since we're all so anal about using only stainless/copper/brass (and some may restrict this list to less than that), I'd think this would be frowned upon.

The reason I ask is that neither Home Dump nor BLowes carry threaded stainless rod.

jpc said:

Are any of you concerned about using non-stainless threaded rod and/or safety pins, etc. for this project? I'd think that steam would condense on the metal parts and drip back into the beer... since we're all so anal about using only stainless/copper/brass (and some may restrict this list to less than that), I'd think this would be frowned upon.

The reason I ask is that neither Home Dump nor BLowes carry threaded stainless rod.

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That's why mine looks like this;

jpc said:

Are any of you concerned about using non-stainless threaded rod and/or safety pins, etc. for this project? I'd think that steam would condense on the metal parts and drip back into the beer... since we're all so anal about using only stainless/copper/brass (and some may restrict this list to less than that), I'd think this would be frowned upon.

The reason I ask is that neither Home Dump nor BLowes carry threaded stainless rod.

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The risk, if any from this would be insignificant. It's amazing how many homebrewers obsess about miniscule risks of contamination from things, but we have no qualms dumping a 9% Barleywine down our throat.

McKBrew said:

The risk, if any from this would be insignificant. It's amazing how many homebrewers obsess about miniscule risks of contamination from things, but we have no qualms dumping a 9% Barleywine down our throat.

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Hey... I never said it was logical! Of course it's an obsession!! It's beer!!! :rockin:

I guess I'm just defending how anal I am about such things. I guess I'll look into Schlenkerla's CPVC route. Tell me, please, how does yours work? Is the CPVC pipe cemented to the ring? With only two support points, does it roll around?

-John

jpc said:

Hey... I never said it was logical! Of course it's an obsession!! It's beer!!! :rockin:

I guess I'm just defending how anal I am about such things. I guess I'll look into Schlenkerla's CPVC route. Tell me, please, how does yours work? Is the CPVC pipe cemented to the ring? With only two support points, does it roll around?

-John

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It work great, It doesn't move around much either. I believe I built mine for $14.00

The first time I used it I was making a Barleywine with more than half a pound of whole hops.

There is a video out there somewhere.

Here it is....https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/few-questions-about-my-setup-67276/

Sorry for the off topic...but I laugh audibly whenever I see BMs kettle

BierMuncher said:

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Schlenkerla said:

Here it is....https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/few-questions-about-my-setup-67276/

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Wow... thanks for the help! Looks like I'll have to pick up some PVC tonight... I've got the other stuff ready to go.

-John

All these designs are pretty solid, i think.

conpewter said:

I'm wondering how well the hop sack will work with an electric keggle. It will probably sit down low enough to hit the element, but since the wort is moving past the element so quickly (boiling) it may keep the sack off it. Thoughts?

I don't like just using the stainless scrubbie over/under the dip tube, doesn't seem to work as well. Also I may go with a bottom mounted drain which means it would be even harder to filter out the hops.

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I have always considered it to be one of lifes un-written rules to never risk having your sack exposed to the elements. No matter what the context.