Dry Hopping Issue

[bobtheUKbrewer2]

Hello all - I dry hop with loose T90 hop pellets for the last 2 days of fermentation. But I am left with very fine hop particles in the top inch of the beer. They are so fine that a hop spider would not help. So I strain through muslin as I bottle. Any ideas, or is it back to leaf hops? Thanks.

 

[BongoYodeler]

Can you cold crash after fermentation? Bringing the temperature down to 50°f / 10°c for a couple days prior to packaging should help the hop matter and yeast fall out, (enough yeast should still be left behind for carbonating if bottling).

 

[bobtheUKbrewer2]

thanks Bongo - I do not cold crash as I do not have the necessary equipment. These particles are totally stationary with no sign of them dropping at all.

 

[IslandLizard]

What kind of fermenter do you use?
Is there a way you can gently stir the beer without introducing air/oxygen into it?

 

[bobtheUKbrewer2]

A stainless steel "saucepan" with a lid - used this set up 20 years plus...

 

[Snuffy]

Sounds like you could use a hop sock to float those pellets and avoid having to strain it.

https://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/hop-bag-dry-hopping-sock.html

 

[bobtheUKbrewer2]

Snuffy - a muslin pouch weighed down might work on some fishing line to jiggle it ?

 

[IslandLizard]

Sounds like you could use a hop sock to float those pellets and avoid having to strain it.

https://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/hop-bag-dry-hopping-sock.html

That type of hop sock looks perfect for the job!
It has very fine mesh, so even fine pellet pulp will be well contained.

Snuffy - a muslin pouch weighed down might work on some fishing line to jiggle it ?

Yeah, I would weigh the hop sock down by adding a few glass marbles or such. Perhaps agitate it a few times a day to get better extraction/permeation. And don't overstuff it since hop pulp expands quite a bit, like 3-4 times.

A stainless steel "saucepan" with a lid - used this set up 20 years plus...

I wouldn't open the fermenter each time to agitate, you want to keep the headspace rich in CO2, curbing the amount of air (oxygen) entering.
When using nylon string, use 2 pieces so you can pull it back and forth a few times to agitate, without having to lift the lid.

 

[Snuffy]

Snuffy - a muslin pouch weighed down might work on some fishing line to jiggle it ?

I normally just drop it in and let it float.

 

[bobtheUKbrewer2]

lizard - great idea thanks - I can trap the string between lid and pan

 

[MaxStout]

Like @IslandLizard suggested, suspend the bag with 2 lengths of nylon line. You can pull them side to side or up and down for a tea bag effect.

BTW, don't pour beer through muslin or some other mesh. That can aerate the beer and cause oxidation.

 

[bwible]

I have a couple of these. They work for hops or oak or cocoa nibs, etc. You need one of the widemouth fermenters like a fermonster. Or they go in a corny. Search for “Stainless steel strainer for hops.”

 

[worlddivides]

I have a couple of these. They work for hops or oak or cocoa nibs, etc. You need one of the widemouth fermenters like a fermonster. Or they go in a corny. Search for “Stainless steel strainer for hops.”

I use a really long one of those for keg hopping (and also as a kind of makeshift hop spider in the boil sometimes, using a strong clamp to keep it in place), but it would definitely solve the OP's problem.

Island Lizard is one of the guys who actually convinced me to go commando with dry hopping. I went for years and years with muslin hop bags, often with sanitized marbles inside to keep them from floating, but when I thought about it, I have to get rid of the yeast trub anyway, so I didn't see any reason not to just go commando.

 

[DavidBD]

Cold crashing should do the trick. Can you set the fermentation bucket in an ice water bath overnight?

 

[bwible]

I use a really long one of those for keg hopping (and also as a kind of makeshift hop spider in the boil sometimes, using a strong clamp to keep it in place), but it would definitely solve the OP's problem.

Island Lizard is one of the guys who actually convinced me to go commando with dry hopping. I went for years and years with muslin hop bags, often with sanitized marbles inside to keep them from floating, but when I thought about it, I have to get rid of the yeast trub anyway, so I didn't see any reason not to just go commando.

I just bought a one gallon fermonster to play around with small batches and I was pleasantly surprised to find it fits in that.