Dry Hopping, what are my options now?

[zodiak3000]

on previous batches i dry hopped in a bucket w/ muslin bags. i was unhappy with buckets as a fermenter and moved to a carboy. i also noticed somewhat poor utilization sometimes when using hop bags when dry hopping in the bucket. this last batch i just tossed the pellets in the carboy. well, i had issues when racking (clogged siphon) and my keg was clogged to the point i could never pull a pint. there was so much material in the bottom of the keg that clearing the dip tube several times did nothing. the only option was to rack the beer to another keg. *as a side note, i didnt filter any material when transferring from kettle to carboy. there was about 5 ounces in the kettle and 5 in the dry hop. i will be filtering this next batch. also, i did do a cold crash for 3 days at 35F. primary used only, no secondary...

anyway, im trying to figure out my options now for dry hopping. i have some ideas, let me know what you think-

1. dry hop without a bag again in the carboy. cold crash 3 days again and siphon carefully. maybe the reason everything clogged was because i didnt filter what was coming from the kettle? im kinda skeptical on doing this method again though...

2. dry hop with a muslin bag with marbles. my concern is can i fit 5 ounces + marbles + muslin bag into that little neck of a 6.5 glass carboy? and if i do get it in, what about getting it out? i assume i could get the muslin bag full of hops close to the neck of carboy after i rack the beer, then just slice it open with a knife and then just clean the mess out of the carboy. anyone have experience with using a bag in a carboy?

3. dry hop in the keg. ive never done this and have concerns about picking up the veggie components. i was thinking maybe dry hopping in the keg with a bag, but attaching a zip tie with the bag to the upper part of the keg on the dip tube. that way after about half the keg is gone, the dry hop bag will be above the beer and not exposing its matter for too long of a period of time (risk of vegetation flavors). anyone have experience with this method?

 

[jheld00]

Let'em swim just toss them in your carboy cold crash after a week or so(if you want). Then when you are racking attach a paint strainer bag to the end of your siphon hose with a zip tie. Works like a charm for me

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[zodiak3000]

Let'em swim just toss them in your carboy cold crash after a week or so(if you want). Then when you are racking attach a paint strainer bag to the end of your siphon hose with a zip tie. Works like a charm for me

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that was the other option i was going to add, but forgot. what about oxygenation with this method? can a muslin bag over the siphon work?

 

[jheld00]

that was the other option i was going to add, but forgot. what about oxygenation with this method? can a muslin bag over the siphon work?

I have done it at least 10 times with no issues. I have also used muslin bags they work in a pinch but they let a lot more particles through. If you're really worried about oxygenation you can put the strainer bag around the bottom of your siphon(assuming your using an auto-siphon) but make sure it is on there very tight or it will clog.
And the opposite for the end of the hose make sure it is lose so the hops dont end up stopping up the flow of beer.

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[eastoak]

i use better bottles because they have a bigger opening than glass carboys, i can pull 2-3 oz of hops in a bag right out of the neck.

 

[zodiak3000]

I have done it at least 10 times with no issues. I have also used muslin bags they work in a pinch but they let a lot more particles through. If you're really worried about oxygenation you can put the strainer bag around the bottom of your siphon(assuming your using an auto-siphon) but make sure it is on there very tight or it will clog.
And the opposite for the end of the hose make sure it is lose so the hops dont end up stopping up the flow of beer.

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i just read a ton of threads about people having issues w/ this method. mostly the siphon stopping, too many bubbles forming, and loosing beer. im not saying that this method hasnt worked for you or others in the past, but id hate to be one of the ones where my beer gets compromised.

 

[unionrdr]

I use hop sacks & grain bags throughout the entire process. And Idk why they call it muslin. It's that web/netting like stuff we used to sock hams & slabs of bacon in to hang in the smoke house. Muslin,in my day was the material used on the outside of feather pillows & mattresses.
Anyway,they keep things a lot cleaner & give good results. Tossing them in loose doesn't seem to give that much more utilization to make the additional mess worth it to me.

 

[zodiak3000]

I use hop sacks & grain bags throughout the entire process. And Idk why they call it muslin. It's that web/netting like stuff we used to sock hams & slabs of bacon in to hang in the smoke house. Muslin,in my day was the material used on the outside of feather pillows & mattresses.
Anyway,they keep things a lot cleaner & give good results. Tossing them in loose doesn't seem to give that much more utilization to make the additional mess worth it to me.

do you use muslin bags for dry hopping in a glass carboy? im trying to see if its feasible to fit 5 ounces + marbles in a muslin bag through the neck out a glass carboy.

 

[neomantra]

If you're talking 5 oz of pellets it might be possible. I've tried this kind of thing a few times but don't think it's worth the hassle factor.

I'd like to +1 jheld00's method of dumping the hops into the carboy without a bag and then putting a hops bag around the end of your siphon hose on bottling day. You can easily avoid clogs and oxidation by tying the bag near the end of the hose with lots of slack left in the bag. If you tie it tightly around the end of the hose then it's going to aerate the heck out of your beer, potentially clog, make a big mess, etc.

I would not recommend putting the bag around the end of your siphon that goes into the carboy. I've tried and it leads to more clogging than if you didn't use a bag at all.

 

[Franzi]

I use hop sacks & grain bags throughout the entire process. And Idk why they call it muslin. It's that web/netting like stuff we used to sock hams & slabs of bacon in to hang in the smoke house. Muslin,in my day was the material used on the outside of feather pillows & mattresses.
Anyway,they keep things a lot cleaner & give good results. Tossing them in loose doesn't seem to give that much more utilization to make the additional mess worth it to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muesli

I guess muslin has something to do with muesli.

 

[kyleobie]

After a bad experience with a bag, I just sprinkle mine in. I use an autosiphon, which tends to filter out the majority of the particles. Then I let it settle for ten minutes in the bottling bucket. It has worked every time for me.

 

[zodiak3000]

If you're talking 5 oz of pellets it might be possible. I've tried this kind of thing a few times but don't think it's worth the hassle factor.

I'd like to +1 jheld00's method of dumping the hops into the carboy without a bag and then putting a hops bag around the end of your siphon hose on bottling day. You can easily avoid clogs and oxidation by tying the bag near the end of the hose with lots of slack left in the bag. If you tie it tightly around the end of the hose then it's going to aerate the heck out of your beer, potentially clog, make a big mess, etc.

I would not recommend putting the bag around the end of your siphon that goes into the carboy. I've tried and it leads to more clogging than if you didn't use a bag at all.

so your tying a loose bag on the end of your siphon hose thats goes into the bottling bucket? in my situation it would be a keg. i think i was interpreting jheld00 method as putting a bag around the siphon in the carboy by mistake. so a loose muslin bag with a zip tie or rubber band (all sanitized) around the siphon hose going into the keg should do the trick?

 

[jheld00]

so your tying a loose bag on the end of your siphon hose thats goes into the bottling bucket? in my situation it would be a keg. i think i was interpreting jheld00 method as putting a bag around the siphon in the carboy by mistake. so a loose muslin bag with a zip tie or rubber band (all sanitized) around the siphon hose going into the keg should do the trick?

I was suggesting either method I use the bag around the end of the hose method about 99% of the time and yes slack is the key the more the better and yes works great for kegging(I never bottle) I just submerse the bag and zip tie in a bowl of star san before attaching them to the hose. I use the paint strainers because they are much finer and I work at a hardware store so I get them on the cheap.

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