Dry hop time and duration?

[gatorforty]

Guys,

I have read a bunch of threads on this, but I'm a bit confused.

- some folks say to dry hop after active fermentation, say 4-7 days in
- some people say 4 days before bottling

If I'm doing a biggish IPA (1.071) that I want to leave in the primary for 3-4 weeks, when is the best time to dry hop? How long should the hops be in the fermenter before cold crash/bottling?

Thanks,

Ron

 

[sptaylor70]

Wait until a week before bottling and toss the hops in then. Most of what you're going to get out of the hops will be got in a week.

 

[whoaru99]

The beer I'm working on has been in primary for 3 weeks and a day. I put my dry hops in today and plan on bottling next weekend.

My understanding is, generally, dry hop after fermentation is complete and roughly 1 week before you plan on bottling. That said, opinion on duration varies widely...from a couple days to a couple weeks. I'm going in the middle, more or less.

 

[Rafael_Amarins]

I usually aim 5-7 days before the end of the cold crash phase then 3 days back @ fermenting temp, then bottle.
I dont give it a two weeks time to avoid grassy or hoppy foot odor.

btw does anybody has dryhopping pdf material? I need to review some stuff.

 

[unionrdr]

It's best to wait till the beer reaches Fg & settles out clear or slightly misty. that way,the hop oils don't coat the yeast cells & other trub materials & go to the bottom. I dry hop 7 days myself.

 

[gatorforty]

Thanks guys really appreciate the feedback. Clears things up and lets me know I've been doing it wrong, ha! I've been adding after 1 week of so of fermentation, and bottling 2-3 more weeks after. Guess that's why I haven't been getting the results I wanted.

Ron

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

It's best to wait till the beer reaches Fg & settles out clear or slightly misty. that way,the hop oils don't coat the yeast cells & other trub materials & go to the bottom. I dry hop 7 days myself.

This is good info. You want to dry hop only after the yeast has dropped.

 

[gatorforty]

So what do you guys think: I have a Black IPA (started at 1.070) that has been in the primary 4 weeks today. I dry hopped 3 weeks ago. It's cold crashing right now and I was planning on bottling Monday. Should I dry hop again prior?
Ron

 

[unionrdr]

See post #5...

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

So what do you guys think: I have a Black IPA (started at 1.070) that has been in the primary 4 weeks today. I dry hopped 3 weeks ago. It's cold crashing right now and I was planning on bottling Monday. Should I dry hop again prior?
Ron

Hate to say it, but you shoulda packaged that one a week or two ago, three weeks is a very long time to dry hop.

 

[gatorforty]

Yeah, I hear you. I will just go ahead an bottle it and get it right next time. The great thing about making beer though, is even when it's not great, it's still beer.

Ron

 

[DocScott]

Hate to say it, but you shoulda packaged that one a week or two ago, three weeks is a very long time to dry hop.

Yep. I expect some grassy-ness will come out from the extended dry hop. In the future, leave the dry hop in for 3-7 days only. I think 3-5 days is best.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Yeah, I hear you. I will just go ahead an bottle it and get it right next time. The great thing about making beer though, is even when it's not great, it's still beer.

Ron

Yeah, it's not the biggest deal. Hops fade rather quickly. It may be grassy, that's about the worst that happens from dry hopping too long.

Yep. I expect some grassy-ness will come out from the extended dry hop. In the future, leave the dry hop in for 3-7 days only. I think 3-5 days is best.

I totally agree, 5 days is my normal time, 7 is my max. Three's probably all ya need though.