Highly doubt i will ever buy leaf hops again.

[BulldogBrewer]

Well using them in general is messier / more of a hassle.

From the amount of freezer space they take up, to re-sealing the package, weighing them, adding/removing them to the boil, adding/removing them to the carboy, bagging them or even tossing them in loose.

To each their own, but I see all of these (with this exception of storage space - which is really a non issue for me) as advantages for leafs. Getting pellet gunk out of the boil is such a pain I would normally just let as much get into the carboy as possible. Now I don't have all that stuff getting in and taking up space in the fermenter.

 

[logdrum]

Plus you can't grow pellet hops.

 

[bobbrews]

Getting pellet gunk out of the boil is such a pain I would normally just let as much get into the carboy as possible. Now I don't have all that stuff getting in and taking up space in the fermenter.

That problem is easy to work around if you bag your kettle hops, then whirlpool, then siphon with a bag wrapped around your auto siphon. Hell, you can wrap another bag around the opening of your bucket if you want to go extra far with filtering.

I typically use about 8-12 oz. or more pellet hops in the boil for my IIPAs, and using these methods, there isn't much kettle hop trub left in the primary.

 

[BulldogBrewer]

That problem is easy to work around if you bag your kettle hops, then whirlpool, then siphon with a bag wrapped around your auto siphon. Hell, you can wrap another bag around the opening of your bucket if you want to go extra far with filtering.

To me - all that bagging was what I found to be a pain. A nice false bottom in the kettle - leafs - and quick clean wort

I'll still use both though, mostly based on availability. I'm just very pleased with how the whole hops work in my system. Most of my brewing friends are still on pellets and make amazing beers. So they all work!

 

[signpost]

Plus you can't grow pellet hops.

Has this been confirmed? I'd like to understand the science behind this.

 

[krackin]

Pellets in the pot and bagged whole hops for dry hopping.

 

[Gameface]

There's a lot I like about whole leaf. I use a large BIAB type bag to add them during the boil. The problem for me is managing my bulk ordered hops when they're in leaf form. 6 pounds of leaf hops takes up a ton of space. You basically need a dedicated chest freezer for them.

Does anyone have an opinion on the best way to package leaf hops. The first year I used mason jars that I vacuum sealed with a foodsaver. I was putting 2oz of hops in a quart size jar. Just silly. This year I just used foodsaver bags but haven't opened most of my bulk bags from hops direct. Is it okay to use a foodsaver bag and let it crush the hops? Also the foodsaver bags aren't the best O2 barrier, so will that be a problem?

I think I'm going back to pellets next year.

 

[osagedr]

This year I just used foodsaver bags but haven't opened most of my bulk bags from hops direct. Is it okay to use a foodsaver bag and let it crush the hops? Also the foodsaver bags aren't the best O2 barrier, so will that be a problem?

I leave them in the Hops Direct bag until I need them, then open, use what I need on brew day, and re-seal the rest in Food Saver Bags. I can't imagine that "crushing" them with a Food Saver is worse than pelletizing Why do you think oxygen is getting through your Food Saver bag? It's hard for me to understand how anything bad could happen to hops sealed and frozen.

 

[ktblunden]

Whole leaf hops are THE reason why pellet hops were invented.

Think about that one.

I love this statement.

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

I prefer whole leaf. Don't use a bag, just dump them in. 2 to 6 ounces in the boil and then after the boil I just dump into the bucket through a wire mesh stainer. Sometimes I have to empty half way through, but overall a piece of cake. I also have dogs so I let the hops finish dripping and then simply empty them into the garbage bag. I do sometimes use pellets, but just use the same process. With pellets I seem to get more particles that fall through into the wort. No big deal - it all settles out in the end.

I think we're a bit lucky though living in OR/WA region where you can get a large variety of fresh whole leaf hops for the same price as pellets.

I dont know if i would get whole leaf hops if i was ordering them online from some pallet sitting in a warehouse for the last 6 months.

Ive even gotten FreshHops cascade hops that were so new the bag didnt even have AA% written on them yet because the testing wasnt complete.

As for difficulty using them, i just dont see it. I have a strainer, i stick it on my fermentation bucket and pour my wort in.
Not only does it aerate the hell out of my wort, but it catches all the hops.

 

[Padalac]

I've only ever used leaf hops.. am i missing something?

 

[BoyScout]

I only use pellets if I'm dry hopping or I can't get leaf in the type of hops I'm looking for. Haven't really had any issues beyond a clogged siphon a couple of times.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I'm an equal-opportunity hop slinger. If they're green, smell funky, and sitting in front of me while I'm brewing then I throw them in. It doesn't matter your shape or size - you're going in the brewpot

I'm never going to sit in front of you while you're brewing. I'm the wrong kind of funk.