Air-drying on frames: how to keep the dirt out

[darkdog50]

Greetings all!

Did a search, but couldn't find the answer to my question. My Fuggles are about ready to pick, and I was planning to air-dry the cones in a 2'x2'x6" square frame with a 1/4" mesh hardware-cloth bottom. I am somewhat concerned, however about the wind-borne dirt, insects & "miscellaneous crud' that will probably land on the cones in the (approximately) 3 days it will take to dry them. Current temps here are in the high 80's & low 90's, with relative humidity about 30%. Every morning when I come out and look at the pool, before the pump goes on, there is a "sheen' of assorted bugs, dirt and varmint hair on the surface.
Up to now, all my brewing has been done with pellets stored in the freezer in sanitary bags. With all hop applications going into boiling ( or post-boil ) wort, I have no reason to fret about dirt. I would like to dry-hop my beer, once I have access to whole-hops, but the temps, in that situation would be around 45-50 degrees for a lager, or 71-54 degrees for ales. Am I worrying unnecessarily, or is there another step I should take after drying the cones, prior to bagging them & putting them into the freezer?

 

[bierhaus15]

I wouldn't worry about the bugs/dirt and other stuff. If it worries you that much get some window screen (as in the stuff that keeps bugs out) and put that over it. Last year I dried 8lbs of hops using some window screen and a box fan situated below it. Took less than 2 days. I dry hop with mine at all temps, all the time, and no problems yet!

 

[Bobby_M]

Do you have a garage? That's where I dry mine.

 

[darkdog50]

Thanks for the input. The window screen sounds like a good approach. Since my frame is made of redwood, it is very soft & I can tack the screen in place with staples, then remove it when the hops are dry. Alas Bobby M, I have a garage, but I never got around to putting a door on it, after I had it rebuilt 5 years ago, from the foundation up.

 

[david_42]

You could also get some mosquito netting and drape it over the frame.

 

[dontman]

I have a question about this box fan use. Doesn't that agitation shake loose a lot of the precious lupulin. That stuff seems a lot like pollen including its ability to fly on the wind.