Hop Screens

[hoplobster]

Forgive my obsession, but I've been trying to think of methods to significantly improve my brewing process and I'm currently stuck on a way to more effectively remove hops from my cooled wort.

My first AG went ok, but I ended up loosing about a gallon of wort in the hot/cold break and hops due to the fact that I strained all of the wort into a large mesh bag and didn't let it all drain... Now the simple solution would be to just be patient and let it drain, but I'm thinking of something a bit easier that limits any potential risks.

I'm thinking of getting a fine metal screen (and fitting it with a metal handle) that will fit my brew kettle and setting it in just before the chiller to sanatize it. After cooling, the chiller will be removed and then the screen, theoretically removing a majority of the coagulated material that has settled on top of it AND it should drain a a bit easier since it's not all compacted in bag. Any thoughts/ideas on how this may work? My kettle is not ported and I really don't have any additional funds to purchase a pre-drilled kettle and I don't want to risk ruining it my boring a hole into metal... which I know nothing about.

Oh yeah, one more comment... My hydrometer took a dump on me too... I was just messing around with theroies on my low gravity on my first AG and took a reading on my tap water and instead of getting 1.000, my hydrometer read 1.004. I suspect my OG is now 4 points less than I originally thought!

All responses are appreciated!

 

[AleHole]

You need to use distilled water to check your hydrometer, hope this helps

 

[lefteye]

I like to pitch alittle of my starter into the wert @75 (when still in the kettle) then rack after the wert reaches max chill or I get bored. The racked beer goes to a high place overnite and in the morning I rack again (without moving the carboy) and pitch again. Clear beer from the start

 

[Wolf]

I put my hops in a large nylon grain bag. Seems to work great.

 

[cweston]

I put my hops in a large nylon grain bag. Seems to work great.

Do you put multiple hop additions in that same bag? Seems like a big PITA fishing it out of the pot, opening it, etc.

 

[Orfy]

I was using this

But am now using this.

 

[Wolf]

Do you put multiple hop additions in that same bag? Seems like a big PITA fishing it out of the pot, opening it, etc.

Yup. I just loop the draw string around the handle on the side of the pot, then I can use that to pull it out just far enough to dump the next round of hops in.

 

[Craig5_12]

I just use multiple hop socks for each addition of hops...quick and easy. Although some will probably argue the benefit of letting the hops move freely in the wort...(just don't tye the bag tight)

 

[brewhead]

or you could build yourself one of these:

 

[Craig5_12]

Nice work Brewhead! I'm going to have to consider that one........

 

[Torchiest]

I thought most people just poured their worts through a strainer placed on top of a funnel after they had cooled it and were moving it into the fermenter. Am I missing something?

 

[cweston]

I thought most people just poured their worts through a strainer placed on top of a funnel after they had cooled it and were moving it into the fermenter. Am I missing something?

That's a great method if you brew in a pot that's light enough to pick up and pour. If you do full boils in a keggle, that's pretty-much out of the question.

Also, if you chill with a plate or counter-flow chiller, then it's important to strain hops trub out before the wort goes into the chiller.

 

[Torchiest]

That's a great method if you brew in a pot that's light enough to pick up and pour. If you do full boils in a keggle, that's pretty-much out of the question.

Wait, you're not all 6'6", 250lb behemoths? My image of the homebrewer is shattered!

 

[the_bird]

That's a great method if you brew in a pot that's light enough to pick up and pour. If you do full boils in a keggle, that's pretty-much out of the question.

That's been my method, since my attempt at a bazooka screen was a complete failure and I haven't built a hopstopper yet.

Maybe you should get to the gym once in a while...

 

[Yooper]

Wait, you're not all 6'6", 250lb behemoths? My image of the homebrewer is shattered!

I guess I'm the only one that fits that description. C'mon you guys- lift that kettle!

Actually, I have it easy, since I don't have a big enough brewpot and I'm dividing my wort into two pots. Then, I just carry (2) 2.75 gallons in pots to the sink to cool. Then I strain them into the fermenter. The straining method works for me- I put my kitchen colander over the plastic bucket, then use my SS strainer inside of that. The colander has the handles to fit over the bucket, and the SS strainer has small enough holes to catch the gunk, that's why I use both. Hopefully that makes sense.

 

[cweston]

C'mon you guys- lift that kettle!

You yoopers sure talk funny--I've never heard it called "lifting the kettle."

 

[Craig5_12]

Wait, you're not all 6'6", 250lb behemoths? My image of the homebrewer is shattered!

Sure...coming from the guy in TEXAS! LOL....

 

[Nwcw2001]

Wait, you're not all 6'6", 250lb behemoths? My image of the homebrewer is shattered!

OH NO we all ARE 250#'s it's just that we are all 5'2"


like sir mix alot says, "36-24-36 only if she's 5'3" "

Only different!



John

 

[Rook]

or you could build yourself one of these:

Brilliant!

I am sooooo doing this.