Hop Extract

[sause]

Well I poured my first ESB out of my new keg setup and no bitterness. Where can you find hop extract to add some flavor, and can it be done now since it is carbonated?

 

[homebrewer_99]

I think Freshhops has some. I got mine from eBay.

 

[sause]

It says on there web site that it is not for bitering but for flavor and aroma. Is this what I am really looking for?

 

[homebrewer_99]

I have bittering hop extract. If I take a sweet hefe weizen and drop in 1 drop all sweetness is gone.

 

[david_42]

Hop oil is used for bittering and hop extract is used for aroma/flavor. Boil an oz. of columbus in a pint of water for 60 minutes & chill in the fridge. Add a teaspoon or two to a pint and then when you have the ratio right, spike the keg.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Hmm, oil / extract?

Mine makes my beer bitter. Must be oil (but it looks like extract)?

Thanks.

 

[The Happy Mug]

Maybe you could add some hop-tea. It's been talked about a bit recently. A really strong, concentrated batch might get what you want.

I recently had a great idea, when I found this ice cube tray in the back of a cabinet.

It's totally self contained, like a flat bottle. One side has a bunch of small ice cube indents, about the size of thimbles. The idea is you fill the thimbles full of water, and freeze them, then you can just pour out small ice cubes, and screw the cap back on.

I was thinking of filling it up with really strong hop tea, so I could drop a 'hop cube' into beers that need more hops, and once it's melted it will increase the hop bitterness.

Any ideas about this? Anybody ever try anything similar?

 

[homebrewer_99]

I've had success with hop tea. I mentioned that several weeks ago.

Hop cubes sounds intriguing.

 

[skydiverbob]

There was a device not to long ago that was a converted water filter that you could connect between your keg and tap and fill with whole hops and run your brew through it before it hits the glass. Never tried one but I've heard it works good for adding hop flavor and aroma to finished beers.

 

[SwAMi75]

There was a device not to long ago that was a converted water filter that you could connect between your keg and tap and fill with whole hops and run your brew through it before it hits the glass. Never tried one but I've heard it works good for adding hop flavor and aroma to finished beers.

That would be a Randall. Yes, they work well for flavor and aroma.

Welcome aboard, skydiverbob!

 

[sause]

Well it took two batchs of hop tea as this thing is great now. I will never go back to bottles after this. Just think uncaping and pouring in a little hop tea and priming and caping again. AHHHH! Kegs rock and thanks for the idea.

 

[Daneaux]

You are right about kegs. They are awesome and the time saved is helpful. I said the same thing when I got my keg system...I did find I missed popping open one of my beers from a bottle. Especially those that I favor which are the Imperials and heavely hopped IPA's. It's easier for me to condition these for months and forget them if I hide them in bottles but if they are in a keg and in the fridge somehow it never reaches maturity. I still bottle now and then for those special occasion keepers and keg the young beer.