Hop Bags

[Emian]

I did a batch his weekend using hop pellets. Transferring the wort to the carboy was a real chore because the pellets just formed a sludge which had to be filtered out - and it was slow.

I had been advised to stay away from hop bags in the past because they interfere with hop utilization. Is this the case? Can one compensate? How do you all use your hops? Floating free - or in a bag?

Even using flowers, the hops can become a bit of a pain when brewing a 60 - 70 IBU IPA.

Ian

 

[cweston]

I haver always just thrown pellets in the pot. I whirpooled after chilling then siphoned off the edge, strained the last pint or so of wort left in the pot.

Now that I've gone to a keggle with a siphon tub running to the middle, I think I'll bag pellet hops whenever I use them.

In Beer Recipator, you can indicate that you're using a bag and it adjusts the utilization for you. I bet Pro Mash and Beersmit do this as well.

 

[RichBrewer]

I've started using whole hops in hop bags because I got tired of straining the wort from the hops. It definitely distracted from my enjoyment of the hobby. Not being a hop head, I am willing to accept a reduction of hop utilization using this method. If you want to try the bags, use a little more hops, take good notes, and adjust for future brews.

I like to use my big stir spoon to press the hop bag against the side of the brew pot. I figure that it squeezes the wort out of the bag taking with it hop bitterness. One thing I love about the bags is clean-up. I just toss the bags into the trash.

 

[Walker]

One thing I love about the bags is clean-up. I just toss the bags into the trash.

what the heck are your bags made of? The ones I have are re-usable nylon and cost a few dollars (> $3) each.

-walker

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

what the heck are your bags made of? The ones I have are re-usable nylon and cost a few dollars (> $3) each.

-walker

Me, too. I just rinse them out, dry them, and use ad infinitum.

 

[Walker]

Me, too. I just rinse them out, dry them, and use ad infinitum.

Maybe the "Rich" in in "RichBrewer" is not his NAME, but his financial position.

 

[RichBrewer]

what the heck are your bags made of? The ones I have are re-usable nylon and cost a few dollars (> $3) each.

-walker

They are the muslin cloth bags and they are about 50 cents each.

 

[cweston]

They are the muslin cloth bags and they are about 50 cents each.

El-cheapo knee-high nylons work great and they're even cheaper than that.

 

[RichBrewer]

Maybe the "Rich" in in "RichBrewer" is not his NAME, but his financial position.

I wish that were true Walker!
I've thought about getting the re-usable bags and I might still do it. Over time they will pay for themselves.

 

[DAAB]

Once whole hops settle they help filter out the coagulated protein (when using a hop strainer) fitted to the back of a boiler faucet/tap.

 

[boo boo]

I have only used whole hops a couple of times but each time they sank and didn't float at all. I mostly use pellet hops and whirpool. I do leave a little wort behind but am now looking into getting that back also by straining after I transfer to primary.

 

[davidkrau]

The cheep cheese cloth hops bags are junk. I think the nylon ones work great. You can use thom over and over again. I doubt if there is any difference in hops utilization if you boil in a bag or if hops float loose on the wort. If you use a nylon hops bag most of the crud stays in the bag and you don't have to strain it out. That's my opinion.

 

[RichBrewer]

The cheep cheese cloth hops bags are junk. I think the nylon ones work great. You can use thom over and over again. I doubt if there is any difference in hops utilization if you boil in a bag or if hops float loose on the wort. If you use a nylon hops bag most of the crud stays in the bag and you don't have to strain it out. That's my opinion.

I've never has a problem with the cheep bags. They have worked flawlessly for me.

 

[PapaRib]

Anyone know what I can use as a substitute for a hop bag. I forgot to pick one up and if there is a way I don't have to make a trip into town before I brew tomorrow I'd like to do that instead! would Muslin Cheesecloth work? Thanks!

 

[EricCSU]

I use these, rinse, wash in the laundry, and repeat. I cinch them up, tie the string in a loose knot around the top of the sack, and let it float around in the boil. I have noticed no difference in utilization.

Eric

 

[Golddiggie]

I use these, rinse, wash in the laundry, and repeat. I cinch them up, tie the string in a loose knot around the top of the sack, and let it float around in the boil. I have noticed no difference in utilization.

Eric

I think that's the same hop bag most of us use... I'm thinking of getting a second (or maybe a third) one so that I can use one for bittering, and another for flavor/aroma hops. Planning to brew again this weekend, and since I won't be going to the LHBS before then, I might just try using a bit of cheesecloth to make a bag for the aroma/flavor hops this time. I expect to have a couple more bags on hand before the next brew day though. I'll double up the cheesecloth (if not use more layers) so that I can still leave most of the trub in the bag.

I do like how much less trub is in the wort when you use the hop bag. Should make harvesting/washing the yeast a lot easier...

 

[Old_E]

Am I doing something wrong? I don't worry about it, dump it all in the fermenter and pitch my yeast. Trub all settles to the bottom, in a compact yeast cake. I haven't noticed any problems with off favors. :cross:

 

[Mysticmead]

I made my hop bag out of the same material I made my grain bag for BIAB. works great and was cheap. $7 got me enough material for 2 grain bags (that fit my 10 gallon brew pot) and 2 hop bags.

 

[Coldies]

I just brewed this weekend using a hop bag for the first time, which is a small nylon bag that was tied to my BK handle. The hops never bothered me before in my fermentor but I liked the results I got with less crud to settle in the fermentor. I will def use again. I could be wrong but I just don't see how it could affect your utilization.

 

[Golddiggie]

Am I doing something wrong? I don't worry about it, dump it all in the fermenter and pitch my yeast. Trub all settles to the bottom, in a compact yeast cake. I haven't noticed any problems with off favors. :cross:

You're talking about dry hopping, adding to the hops you added during the boil, right?

 

[Timboosh]

Might not be the most elegant thing in the world, but I use a 5-gal nylon paint strainer bag. A 2-pack at the hardware store is like $6 I think?? It's plenty big enough that the pellet hop particles can move around in the wort easily so I don't believe utilization is an issue.

It lets some of the fine stuff through, but catches most of the loose pellets when you pull the bag out. And between siphoning off of whats left in the kettle and letting the rest collect in the trub with the yeast cake, I've ended up with some pretty clear beers and and easier clean up.

 

[Mysticmead]

You're talking about dry hopping, adding to the hops you added during the boil, right?

that's not dry hopping. he's talking about dumping the boil hops, plus hot break and cold break all to his primary since it all settles out in the end. Dry hopping is something completely different

 

[timdsmith72]

Heh. I didn't even know they made reusable hop bags. I've always just used the cheap ones that you throw away. I guess they're cheesecloth. Although I did run out once and used a pair of my wife's knee high hose.

 

[pearlbeer]

From what I have read if you bag your hops, you want to use a large bag to maximize the surface area/water flow around your hops. If the hops are balled up into a small sock, they are not as exposed to the boil, thus AA extraction drops.

A BrewStong show estimated well under 10% loss with bagged hops, given a large bag was used.

In summary, I bag my hops, because I have a large sack.

 

[Old_E]

You're talking about dry hopping, adding to the hops you added during the boil, right?

Nope. boil, cool, and into the fermenter. Dry hop later after fermentation.

 

[Golddiggie]

Nope. boil, cool, and into the fermenter. Dry hop later after fermentation.

I did that for my first brews. For the past two I've used the hop bag... A LOT less crap in the bottom of the pot, going into the fermenter. I know a good amount settles into the trub, but since I'm getting into washing my yeast now, I want to minimize that. Using the hop bags also pretty much eliminates the need to use a straining insert in your funnel (if you still get your wort into the primary via a funnel at least)...

 

[Golddiggie]

...because I have a large sack.

I bet you say that to alllll the ladies...