Dry hopping a must?
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Dryhopping add some of that "in your face" hops aroma that people love about IPAs. If you don't want to dryhop, that's fine, unless you're entering it in a competition.
I always dryhop an IPA, but it's certainly not required! I just dryhopped an IIPA yesterday= 7 ounces of hops in a 10 gallon batch. I love it.
I always dryhop an IPA, but it's certainly not required! I just dryhopped an IIPA yesterday= 7 ounces of hops in a 10 gallon batch. I love it.
RandomBeerGuy
Well-Known Member
+1 I always dry hop as well for IPA
I am a fan of (very) late kettle hopping. By exposing the hops to hot wort with NO opportunity to boil off, the hop aromas are a bit different, more refined one might say and I find the bittering contribution to be less resinous. Either after flame out or with a "Hop Rocket" type device.
It's a preference but I would say 99%+ of people who want a (U.S.) IPA would expect this. I love both!
It's a preference but I would say 99%+ of people who want a (U.S.) IPA would expect this. I love both!
runningweird
Well-Known Member
I read must like "must" as in wine making, I thought it was an interesting idea.
you don't have to dry hop, i like to because I like what it does for my beer but you don't have to.
it's just another step, it takes a little more time and costs a bit more. I like the results so I do it.
you don't have to dry hop, i like to because I like what it does for my beer but you don't have to.
it's just another step, it takes a little more time and costs a bit more. I like the results so I do it.
hellawaits77
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Nope, don't have to. It's all about what you're after. If you like a very strong hoppy aroma, I would say definitely dry hop!
Dry hopping is so easy to do that if there's a beer style that benefits from this, then I do it. Open lid, dump in pellets or leaves, and close lid. Spray some star san in appropriate places during this. Really no more difficult than taking a SG reading.
daddyo1109
Active Member
Saw something recently that said it was a good idea to put the hops in a cheesecloth bag or grain bag and weight the bag so that the hops sink to the bottom of the fermenter. I hadn't tried that yet.Any thoughts or comments?
Xpertskir
Well-Known Member
For an IPA, yes....it really is a must.
Odin_Brews
Well-Known Member
haha, same here! Another vote for dryhopping.
WhiskeySam
Well-Known Member
Is there a point of diminishing returns with dry hop time? What I'm asking is if there is a difference between dry hopping for 7 days v. dry hopping for 14 days.
Any thoughts or comments?
Some people do this (especially with whole leaf hops) but many experienced on here say the oils disperse either way and weighing them down really does nothing but add work by sanitizing weights and a mesh bag. Personally I just toss them in (have done whole leaf as well as pellets) then either cold crash or just put siphon into a mesh bag to filter out hops when bottling/kegging.
some do 3 to 5 days, some 7, etc...but prolonged dry hop times risk grassy flavors. Some say anything over 7 days risks this, but I have read threads of people having to prolong bottling for over a month after throwing in hops and denying any grassy notes in the finished product. I just play it safe and do avg 7 day dry hop.
hellawaits77
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Yes I've found 7 days to be the sweet spot for hoppy Pale Ale's / IPA's. A DIPA I'd bump it up a few days. I prefer to add the dry hops during the last few days of fermentation, rather than waiting till its done. Some say you'll lose hop aroma that way, but I've gotten great results from doing that.
I mean, no it isn't a must, it's your beer.
What I think you should do is, at the time you would dry hop if you chose to do so, give the beer a taste (and smell). If you're happy with it let it ride. If you'd like a more hoppy character, dry hop away. But it is really up to you.
What I think you should do is, at the time you would dry hop if you chose to do so, give the beer a taste (and smell). If you're happy with it let it ride. If you'd like a more hoppy character, dry hop away. But it is really up to you.
WhiskeySam
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the advice guys. Appreciate it
RIC0
Well-Known Member
Late hop additions in the last few mins or even a steep after its off the heat are great for IPA's and dry hoping is a must.:fro:
