Grinding Hops

[Zuljin]

Extracting and concentrating the oils of plants is not only a real thing, it's a real thing with hops in the craft of brewing.

 

[day_trippr]

I definitely threw up in my mouth a little.

Reported myself

 

[Ace_Club]

There's a leak from the taproom running through this thread. Smells like urine.

Please take care of it, good sir. Cheers.

 

[Ace_Club]

And that is exactly why I don't grind my hops. I've been growing Chinook/Cascade/Centennial and Fuggles for five years and come harvest time there's hella hop resin everywhere. I would expect there'd be a lot of hop goodness lost to most mills...

Cheers!

Interesting point. Makes me wonder if an immersion blender would be of use. You could either use it in the kettle, or you could remove a small portion of wort, blend in the hops and then add back to the kettle. That way you would minimize the amount of resin lost to the grinder.

 

[ChefRex]

Interesting point. Makes me wonder if an immersion blender would be of use. You could either use it in the kettle, or you could remove a small portion of wort, blend in the hops and then add back to the kettle. That way you would minimize the amount of resin lost to the grinder.

But then why would a Pro use a coffee grinder, I suppose once it gets coated losses would be minimized.

 

[aprichman]

But then why would a Pro use a coffee grinder, I suppose once it gets coated losses would be minimized.

Actually it works the opposite way - the resin is more inclined to stick to itself than a clean, smooth surface like commercial food grade stainless.

 

[Ace_Club]

Actually it works the opposite way - the resin is more inclined to stick to itself than a clean, smooth surface like commercial food grade stainless.

Interesting point.

So what's the advantage of grinding hops over just buying pellets? I can see if you're already growing your own hops, but otherwise it would seem to just be more equipment when one can just order pellet hops.

 

[ChefRex]

Interesting point.

So what's the advantage of grinding hops over just buying pellets? I can see if you're already growing your own hops, but otherwise it would seem to just be more equipment when one can just order pellet hops.

Simple, freshness, same reason I grind my coffee every morning.

 

[kevink]

Simple, freshness, same reason I grind my coffee every morning.

Are you saying that whole hops are fresher than pellets all things being equal (same harvest, same packaging, etc)?

 

[Ace_Club]

Are you saying that whole hops are fresher than pellets all things being equal (same harvest, same packaging, etc)?

That's what I was thinking. Unless the whole leaf hops are coming right off the bine, I don't think there would be any noticeable difference between ordering whole leaf vs. pellet.

 

[aprichman]

The main advantage is cost (whole cone hops are cheaper in bulk and you get increased utilization [to an extent that outweighs the loss of hop resins]) and being able to whirlpool the hop sludge.

 

[bob1852]

That's what I was thinking. Unless the whole leaf hops are coming right off the bine, I don't think there would be any noticeable difference between ordering whole leaf vs. pellet.

Efficiency.

Just like ordering whole grain vs. crushed. If you crush yourself, you have greater control over the process.

 

[kevink]

Efficiency.

Just like ordering whole grain vs. crushed. If you crush yourself, you have greater control over the process.

Please explain whatever you are getting at in detail (pertaining to hops, not grain).

 

[b-boy]

Actually it works the opposite way - the resin is more inclined to stick to itself than a clean, smooth surface like commercial food grade stainless.

Tell that to my boil pots after I use hop shots. I have some residue that's about a year old. Even the power washer won't take it off. That stuff is nasty.

 

[Genghis]

Grinding is overkill. I would suggest muddling whole leaf hops with a little DME and water, much like you would with mint when preparing a mojito.

Don't have to pulverize it, just give it enough of the pestle to release the essential oils, and you're in flavourtown, my friends.

 

[kevink]

Grinding is overkill. I would suggest muddling whole leaf hops with a little DME and water, much like you would with mint when preparing a mojito.

Don't have to pulverize it, just give it enough of the pestle to release the essential oils, and you're in flavourtown, my friends.

Or just buy pellets as it's already done for you

 

[Ace_Club]

Or just buy pellets as it's already done for you

One could say the same thing about beer.

 

[Sailingeric]

How about pouring a little liquid nitrogen on the leaves to and the grind them when they are frozen. Should break up nicely.

 

[ChefRex]

How about pouring a little liquid nitrogen on the leaves to and the grind them when they are frozen. Should break up nicely.

Sounds like you have a plan, do it!

 

[Billy-Klubb]

try twerking your hops for a while before grinding them. you get more of that juicy resin extracted that way.

 

[kevink]

Whole hops cryogenically treated, ground while frozen, and compressed into pellets would obviously be the best. Imagine the aroma if they went right from the liquid nitrogen bath to the kettle.

 

[passedpawn]

Surreal. Times like these I miss Revvy.

 

[bob1852]

Surreal. Times like these I miss Revvy.

Revvy ground hops, too?

 

[Zuljin]

Whole hops > pellet hops.

Whole hops do absorb a lot more wort, but pellets make much more trub sludge. Them hops ain't doing much for me in trub sludge.

Of course, we don't want to squeeze the wort out of those whole hops. We may squeeze out a bunch of tannins with it.

Enter hop extract.

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

Revvy ground hops, too?

I thought he just burned his. Too soon?

 

[slym2none]

Whole hops > pellet hops.

Whole hops do absorb a lot more wort, but pellets make much more trub sludge. Them hops ain't doing much for me in trub sludge.

Of course, we don't want to squeeze the wort out of those whole hops. We may squeeze out a bunch of tannins with it.

Enter hop extract.

Do hops contain tannins?

 

[Genghis]

Do hops contain tannins?

Not initially, no. The hops soak up the tannins from the wort. They're like little tannin sponges. When you squeeze 'em, you release all those tannins back into the wort.

 

[bob1852]

Not initially, no. The hops soak up the tannins from the wort. They're like little tannin sponges. When you squeeze 'em, you release all those tannins back into the wort.

But only if the pH is above.6.0 and the temp is above 170.

 

[passedpawn]

[This skit has been moved to DRMM, a step closer to where it belongs]

 

[bob1852]

[This skit has been moved to DRMM, a step closer to where it belongs]

You'll regret that when thus novel approach catches on.