Filter on funnel always clogs

[Clintos]

Evening folks! It's been a while since I've posted, because I took a hiatus from brewing, but I'm recently back and loving it. Here's a quick background on me so you'll have an idea of my experience level:

I brew, on average, about once per month, but I've been doing it for about 3 years now - been doing all-grain for about half that time. I'm currently doing 5-gallon, all-grain batches, and I've only ever brewed from existing recipes. I use a 10-gallon Rubbermaid picnic cooler for a mash tun, a 10-gallon stainless steel boil kettle, and boil using a single unit propane burner. I also use a submersion chiller, and either glass carboy or glass Big Mouth Bubbler.

I'm honing my technique, and things are improving each time I brew. However, the biggest problem that I almost always have is that the stupid screen filter on my funnel clogs when I'm transferring from my boil kettle to my carboy (it's one of those circular screen filters that snaps down into the funnel).

When the funnel clogs, I usually take a spoon and scrape it back and forth. This makes it flow, but I think it's forcing hop residue down into my carboy (last I heard, that's not a great thing?). I always Vorlauf and catch big pieces of grain coming out of my mash tun (cooler) with a strainer before I boil, so I don't think that is the problem.

I feel like I am overlooking something simple here. Can someone give me some guidance?

Thanks guys/gals.

 

[ThunderpantsBrewing]

I used to fight with this, but I read the following blog post and haven't worried about it since, and my beer hasn't suffered in the least bit:

http://brulosophy.com/2014/06/02/the-great-trub-exbeeriment-results-are-in/

 

[flars]

I use the same type of funnel. I pour through a fine mesh grain bag that rests in the funnel. My Wife helps with pour since my jury rigged bag holder failed. As the bag clogs, we lift it so the wort continues draining through the sides. Sewing it into a cone shape reduced the chances of slop over.

 

[LLBeanJ]

Make your life easier and remove the screen. Hops in the fermenter isn't anything to get hung up on.

 

[Clintos]

Wow, I forgot how fast people on here reply :rockin:

I appreciate the responses. I tend to side with ThunderpantsBrewing (I read the article) and LLBeanJ. Seems like worrying about it may be more trouble than it's worth for my style of brewing. I may continue to try and reduce the amount of hop residue in the fermenter if I'm brewing something that I think needs less up-front bitterness. However, I bet I'd have to do a similar experiment myself to know if I could even taste the difference given my palate.

If it's OK, I'd like to add on one final noob question to this thread: I've been putting my hop pellets in muslin bags. If I wanted to reduce hop residue in the wort, should I be using something else?

Thanks again!

 

[MaxStout]

Ditto what LL said.

Don't worry about some hop gunk getting in the fermenter now. It'll settle out. You'll eliminate more trub later by good control of your racking cane or autosiphon.

 

[Zepth]

I believe Yooper said that she puts it all into the fermenter and lets it settle out. I try to brew batches just the right size so that I can leave most of it behind in the kettle and still be at the right volume in fermenter. Sometimes I send it all to the fermenter with no noticeable difference. I'll get around to reading that article later.

One thing is for sure: it is a little easier to harvest and clean yeast if you don't have all that gunk in the bottom.

 

[LLBeanJ]

One thing is for sure: it is a little easier to harvest and clean yeast if you don't have all that gunk in the bottom.

Good point. However, one solution is to make a habit of harvesting clean yeast right from your starters so the hop gunk becomes a moot point and you get cleaner yeast that have not endured the stress of fermentation.

Occasionally, I do direct-pitch slurry right from the bottom of the fermenter. I don't wash it and I don't worry about any hops that might be present. The rest of the time I make starters and save a bit off for a future starter.

 

[trussell]

I just brewed yesterday and while I have been using a bucket filter the last few brews I have wondered if it mattered. It slows down the transfer, clogging issues etc. I have a Fastferment and 2 of the collection balls. I let things settle for 2-3 hours before pitching and change to a clean ball when I pitch. There was very little in the ball with filtering. I decanted most back into the fermenter when I switched balls. The last time I did that the 2nd ball had very clean yeast which I saved.

So now I read the The Great Trub exBEERiment and I wonder if I was wasting my time.

I do like to reduce trub but I think I'll do the normal things to reduce trub but don't bother to filter. What ever settles to the ball after a couple of hours will go and that'll be that.

 

[augiedoggy]

a hop spider works well to prevent this issue...I used to fight this as well especially before I switched to a stainless 300micron hop spider and plate chiller... I also found that attaching some stainless braided hose line insulation like the stuff found on toilet water line hoses works well to create a "pre filter" before the one on the funnel...
the trub experiment does state that the two beers did taste differently... The beer with less trub was sharper and the trubbed beer seemed smoother...

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

I dump it all in but if it really bothers you, do a whirlpool and siphon from the BK instead of pouring. You can keep the siphon raised off the bottom along the edge and avoid hops/trub.

 

[Toy4Rick]

We use 5gal paint strainers that you get from Lowes or Home Depot. Super easy, fast and re-usable. :rockin:

I tried the funnel with the filter and it was a royal PITA

Rick