1st AG batch - brewday gone bad

[bn163]

Patersbier recipe copied from a thread I saw on this forum (modified somewhat based on ingredients available @ LHBS). 10# Pilsner malt, 2oz. Hallertau (3%) @ 60min, 0.75oz Saaz (3%) @ 10min, 1tsp Irish moss @ 15min. Wyeast Labs 3787 yeast.

Brew day was going well until time to drain the keggle, & I realized that I completely screwed up by adding whole leaf hops directly to the boil (no hop bag). Didn't have any kind of screen around my pick-up tube. Ended up having to sanitize my hand/arm & unclog the pickup tube several times. Eventually, it became clogged & I could not free it up. Had collected around 2.5gal wort at this point. Then sanitized the top of the keggle & a colander, and dumped the remaining wort into the fermenter. A good bit of hops, the hot & cold break, and the Irish moss ended up in the fermenter. Also only recovered about 4.25 gallons of wort @ 1.048 OG (target was 1.047). Went ahead & pitched the yeast, and it is fermenting away this morning.

I will never use whole hops without a hop bag. That being said, what do most people use for hop bags? I have used the disposable muslin bags, but would it be better to get a reusable nylon bag?

Will be surprised if this doesn't end up nasty, but have some hope after reading through the "What are some of the mistakes you made" thread.

 

[mojotele]

I'm willing to bet your beer will be just fine! You might be able to add it to the mistakes thread when all is said and done

For a hop bag, I use the 5 gallon paint strainer bags from Home Depot.

 

[BigJason]

I use a "small" nylon bag. PITA to rinse out, but well worth it, even with hop pellets.