First Wort Hopping

[Morrey]

I am looking into brewing a recipe that calls for a first wort hop addition.

I am a BIAB full volume, no sparge brewer and hope to find out how first wort hoping would be done in my process along with any tips you may offer.

Thanks!

 

[enkamania]

I do no sparge BIAB, squeeze the bag, throw in the hops, light the flame.

 

[Morrey]

I do no sparge BIAB, squeeze the bag, throw in the hops, light the flame.

Darn...I was trying to make something complicated out of this.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I just did my first FWH beer. Looking forward to see if its any different-smoother. It will be ready tomorrow. Same as method as stated...I don't see how there would be any other way

 

[Morrey]

I just did my first FWH beer. Looking forward to see if its any different-smoother. It will be ready tomorrow. Same as method as stated...I don't see how there would be any other way

Jonnyrotten do you mind making a post back on this thread once you try the FWH beer? I'm interested to see if you can tell a difference.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Jonnyrotten do you mind making a post back on this thread once you try the FWH beer? I'm interested to see if you can tell a difference.

Absolutely. Im really curious about this one myself. There are a lot of firsts involved:

First FWH
First SMASH- Vienna/Mosaic
First one day dry hop

 

[Morrey]

Absolutely. Im really curious about this one myself. There are a lot of firsts involved:

First FWH
First SMASH- Vienna/Mosaic
First one day dry hop

Awesome! Looking forward to your "first" impression!

 

[wobdee]

Let the hops sit in the wort for 30 min or so prior to boil, it'll give you some flavor and aroma.

 

[dmtaylor]

FWH offers zero advantages over a regular boil addition, unless you are one of those people who always forgets to add the hops until the boil is done. Personally I am one of those people who always forgets to add the FWH so I end up adding them during the boil anyway.

Seriously, all FWH does is add about 5% more IBUs to any beer. Unable to taste a difference at the end. This has been proven by Brulosophy and others.

 

[wobdee]

I recommend you try for yourself and see. Brulosophy isn't the know all end all.

 

[Horseflesh]

I tried a regular recipe of mine with FWH and could not detect a difference. YMMV.

 

[jrodmfish]

I recommend you try for yourself and see. Brulosophy isn't the know all end all.

There's been several other sources that have downplayed the effectiveness off FWH. Just like there's several sources that say whirlpool hop stands have no different effect than a 20min boil addition. I'm with you though. Try it for yourself and make your own call.

 

[brew703]

FWH is smoother than a 60 min addition. I actually prefer 60 min addition but next brew will go back to FWH but will add a larger amt as previously I've done .5 for a 3 gal batch and the IBU was really lacking for me.

 

[ChelisHubby]

With the blonde I am doing, I add my fwh at 180 degree while I am bringing up the tempature to boil and I find it to be softer smoother bitter than just a 60 minute addition. Your mileage may vary.

 

[RM-MN]

With the blonde I am doing, I add my fwh at 180 degree while I am bringing up the tempature to boil and I find it to be softer smoother bitter than just a 60 minute addition. Your mileage may vary.

How does that compare to only doing a 30 minute boil with 30 minute hop addition?

 

[ChelisHubby]

I dont know because I have not tried that. I would think they would be similar. I usually need a longer boil to bring my volume down after sparging.

 

[wishingiwasfishing]

With the blonde I am doing, I add my fwh at 180 degree while I am bringing up the tempature to boil and I find it to be softer smoother bitter than just a 60 minute addition. Your mileage may vary.

Just curious, why do you wait until the temp is up to 180f?

My understanding is to add it at first wort, to give it additional time at lower temps, before sweeping up to boil.


Dan

 

[Morrey]

I have looked at two recipes almost identical with the only exception FWH addition called for in one of the recipes.

Recipe one calls for .5 oz of Amarillo at 60....and so on

Recipe two calls for .25 oz Amarillo FWH, .25 oz Amarillo at 60....and so on.

Either recipe ends up having .5 oz Amarillo boiled for a full 60 min. I don't see anything to lose by trying FWH, but I cant get my head around the net gain since they both boil 60 min.

 

[ScrewyBrewer]

Let the hops sit in the wort for 30 min or so prior to boil, it'll give you some flavor and aroma.

Theoretically any flavor or aroma gains achieved prior to the boil will be lost during the boil. Try forgoing any bittering hop additions at all and instead calculate your bitterness from only flavor and aroma additions.

 

[ChelisHubby]

Just curious, why do you wait until the temp is up to 180f?

My understanding is to add it at first wort, to give it additional time at lower temps, before sweeping up to boil.


Dan

I choose that temp so I could be consistant, I also remember that you need 165 or more to release the oils that provide bittering. After I sparge my wort is 135 to 150.

 

[RM-MN]

Theoretically any flavor or aroma gains achieved prior to the boil will be lost during the boil. Try forgoing any bittering hop additions at all and instead calculate your bitterness from only flavor and aroma additions.

Theory and reality are sometimes slightly different. I expected that the flavor and aroma would be lost so I didn't worry about the hop I used for a blonde ale for a friend that doesn't like hop flavor or aroma but the grapefruit from the Cascade hops I use for bittering carried through anyway.

 

[wishingiwasfishing]

I choose that temp so I could be consistant, I also remember that you need 165 or more to release the oils that provide bittering. After I sparge my wort is 135 to 150.

From my understanding of FWH, you do it in order to release some of the other oils in the hops, at those lower temperatures, to become a bit more soluble. Then you let them ride into the boil, as you raise the temperature, for bittering. People can argue the merits of FWH, but the way you're doing it is just as bittering hops.

 

[ChelisHubby]

You might be right. But at what tempature should I start with? after Sparging my temps vary quite a bit for a starting point.

 

[ChelisHubby]

I am 50 minutes from starting the boil if you have a suggestion I am all ears!

 

[wishingiwasfishing]

Throw them in at the first Running's, very beginning of the sparge

 

[ChelisHubby]

I got the post as I was starting to warm for the boil, the temp was 150, I will see how it works out!